Fan Fiction ❯ Vailla ❯ Chapter 12

Spring came with such a warm and joyous return, with clear skies and lush green grass. New life was being created all around the glorious scent of new blossoms filled the sweet air. Trigger and the others had settled down just outside of Laces in a cottage that they had built themselves. Jads and Galdine had gotten married and shortly after adopted Laurie and Trigger as their children and of course they were delighted. The terrible events that had taken place still haunted them; sometimes one of them would wake in the night from nightmares. But the way Vailla had departed told them that it was a good ending and that they should all be happy and live life to the fullest. Trigger had at first taken her death very badly and he got worse after the heartless Morge had told him that it was his fault she had died, but Trigger had pulled it together and started to concentrate on life. Morge had returned to Wrendore and sometimes without warning he would show up, it seemed the reasons for these visits was just to annoy even though he told them that he was there to `observe' what was going on in Laces. The war was never actually started without because without the other demons the wizards were nothing but Morge still liked to keep an eye on things. Today Trigger was sent out to hunt for food while Laurie and Galdine prepared for dinner. Jads had found a job in the fish market gutting fish on the docks and so he would sometimes go off to work for a few days and then return home, this was one of those days he had been away working so Trigger was forced to hunt alone. He decided to try the forests today since the meadows were often occupied with fellow hunters.

The woods were cool and refreshing, the sun dazzled through the treetops. He wasn't in a rush and he often found this forest so close to his home relaxing. Laurie had been annoying him all morning and he thought he deserved this little break away from his little sister. He found a trail and followed it, by the looks of the marks he was after a deer that had not very recently. His boots were soft as he crept along the forest's floor being as agile as a cat stalking its prey. He twig snapped behind him and he spun round with an arrow already loaded into his bow. There was nothing there. He carried on for a little while guessing that the noise was little more than the odd mouse running along to do its daily errands. He hear it again, this time the sound came from above him so he looked into the trees. It was early spring so the tree weren't very thick with blossom so he could easily see the figure sitting in the tree. She had wild white hair, dark creamy skin and the most vibrant green eyes he had ever seen. She wore a little clothing that mainly consisted of an animal skin top and a green material fashioned like shorts. She sat smiling at him. "Hello up there." Trigger greeted warmly. The girl was the same age as him; she nodded her acknowledgment and then jumped from the tree and landed on her feet.

"Nice to see you again Trigger, it's been a long time." She flung her arms round him. Feeling a little embarrassed and confused he gently pushed her away.

"Do I know you?" He asked. She laughed a rich full laugh, a familiar laugh.

"I am who am I, yet I am more than what I am." She sneered wickedly, knowing that he would not understand the riddle. Trigger thought she was some kind of poor girl left in the forest with little of a mind left. He looked at what he thought was an insane hermit and nodded.

"What is your name?" Trigger decided to humour her a little.

"My names are many because I am many, but I think the only name you care about will come to you as a shock. My appearance does not go with the name you know yet it does go with the name I know. Perhaps if I came to your cottage later I or shall I say we can clear a few things up." She gave him a little peck on the cheek and then ran of giggling like a very young child. He thought about chasing after her but she was gone within the second, not leaving as much as a footprint behind her. He turned round and sighed, he heard a slight ruffling to his left and when he rotated slightly he saw his deer grazing in a small clearing of lush green grass.

Galdine was cooking the deer that Trigger had caught while Laurie and Hayley played with the flour. The short days of winter had grown slightly longer as the seasons changed and so they finally ate a few hours before sunset. Trigger sat by the kitchen table that Jads had lovingly made back in the in winter, while waiting for dinner. He had nothing else to do because he had already completed his chores so he decided to tell the Galdine about the strange girl in the woods. "I think she is a little crazy but she seemed harmless enough."

"Well if you see her again, bring her home. By the sounds of it she is living in those woods, we may be able to help her." Galdine called from the kitchen. Trigger lent back in his chair and ponders on these thoughts. She had said she would come to his home later, but how did she know where he lived? How did she know him? His thoughts were interrupted by a timid knock on the door. "Get that would you Triggs?" She asked kindly. Trigger grumbled as he walked toward the wooden door, he hated the new nickname Galdine had gave him, it sounded silly. The door was slightly ajar anyway; being spring instead of winter they often kept their windows or doors open. He swung it open ready to greet the visitor, visitors were rare but always welcomed. When he saw the person standing there he almost collapsed as he felt his knees getting weak, he couldn't believe whom he saw. Dressed in a soft cowhide top and short skirt, she showed a lot of her tanned skin. Her red hair was braided into one long plat reaching half way down her back. The girl almost squealed in delight and flung her arms round the unsuspecting Trigger and planted a big kiss on his lips. He staggered a bit his eyes were damp and almost frightened.

"What's the matter Trigger, you look surprise to see me." She giggled. "Or don't you recognise me without my scars?"

"Vailla? But… I thought…what is going on here?" Trigger whispered hoarsely.

"I take it the bumbling annoyance didn't explain much to you today. Anyway it's hard to explain but I am here with me as another being from the past. I'll explain it in full when Vilah gets here. She shouldn't be long, probably got talking to some poor soul on the way." She looked at him and gave him a warm, sympatric smile. "I'm sorry Trigger about leaving like that, I would of told you I was coming back if I knew at the time. But the most important thing is that I am here now, and that is all that matters."

"I can't believe you are standing there, the others and I thought you were long dead. We even had a funeral for you."

"How come you never invited me?" She asked wickedly. This was too much Trigger was near fainting. He made his way back to the chair and sat down. Nervously he rubbed his hands together and looked up and Vailla who was standing in the door wait. "Look, I know this must be hard for you to understand and if you want me to go I'll go. I just thought that well…after what was said to each other back at the inn before I left for Laces." She left it hanging. Before Trigger could answer Galdine walked into the room.

"Who is it Trig…?" She dropped the bowl she was hold in shock, it hit the floor and smashed.

It took Vailla some explaining but eventually she managed to convince them that she was alive and that was not some kind of sick joke. Laurie was the calmest out of the three, but that didn't really surprise Vailla. She felt bad about leaving them like that, and pretty much convincing her she was dead forever. Stupid Star, she thought to herself it could of told me so I could tell them. That would have been so much easier! Galdine was just staring at her while Trigger had his head in his hands. "So, where is Jads?" Vailla asked there was nothing more she could really think of to say. She waited and had thought no one would answer but Laurie started to climb on her lap.

"Daddy Jads has gone to work in the fish market. He'll be back next week mummy said." She sweetly planted a kiss on Vailla's cheek and clung in a hugging fashion onto her arm.

"Daddy? Mummy? Oh I get it! They adopted you didn't they? Oh, I'm happy for you to have a mum and a…" Her voice became bitter. "And a father." She almost spat out the words. It wasn't any personal insult to Jads; it was just the mention of the word `father' she had called him that even when they fought to kill each other.

"You must be hungry, you are staying aren't you?" Galdine asked quietly, she had a slight quiver in her voice. "Vailla?"

"Yes?" She replied but before she could say anything else Galdine flung her arms around her.

"Vailla!" Galdine clung tightly, a great embrace. "I thought you were gone forever. We all did, I'm so happy." Vailla laughed and hugged her back, Laurie felt a little injured having been almost pushed from Vailla's lap so she walked over to Trigger and climbed onto his lap. Trigger looked down at her and picked his little sister up, and then walked over to the hugging girls.

"We're all happy beyond believe to see that you are alive." Still holding onto Laurie he lent over and kissed Vailla gently on the lips. Vailla blushed and caught his hand.

"Me too." She almost whispered through tears of happiness. There was a large bang from behind them and a girl came tumbling though the door. Her hair was a total mess while her clothes were torn. On the floor not far away was a small dagger that she had clumsily dropped.

"Erm… Hello Vailla, sorry I'm late but I got err… chased." It was the girl that Trigger had met earlier in the woods. Her black hair was wilding hung all round her head just like when Trigger had first met her.

"You look a mess Vilah, straighten yourself up a bit and come say hello to my friends." Vailla giggled. Vilah stood up and tried to brush most of her hair behind her ears. Galdine gasped as she noticed that Vilah had brushed her hair behind pointy ears.

"You're a, a…" Galdine almost could not get her words out. "An elf?"

"She's a pain in my backside is what he is." Vailla muttered, Vilah looked guilty and shuffled her feet.

"I'm not that bad." She protested weakly, then she looked and Galdine and smiled wickedly. "I am what you see, but what you see is not all of what I am."

"Riddles! Again with the riddles!" Vailla threw her hands up in frustration. "Yes she is an elf, and Vilah is here with me. We're sort of like a lifeline to each other, but how we managed to survive this long with all her little quests is beyond me."

"But I thought all the elves died out a long time ago, they're stuff of legends not reality." Trigger said.

"The generation of elves did die out, as did the old generations of sorceresses as I'm sure you remember. We're here together because they owe us one." Vailla explained. "Vilah and I are the same person in a way, She went through exactly the same thing I went through except it wasn't her father it was her brother and he tried taking over the world by starting a war using his followers. The moment my great, great, great grandmother was born, she died. In a way she has been living in every female generation of my family but the moment my generation of sorceresses died she was freed as her own spirit. We both sort of ganged up on the `Great Being' and here we are. Does this make any sense?"

"None what so ever, but as long as you both are here how about some dinner? Trigger caught a rather large deer today and I've make a strew out of it." Galdine offered kindly.

"You have no idea how happy I am that you mention food, I'm starving!" Vailla slapped her stomach enthusiastically.

"You've changed a little Vailla, I don't know but there is something different about you." Trigger said quietly after Galdine had left the room.

"I'm not the same person Trigger. I'm not the same bitter, stupid little girl I once was, and I can have fun now and enjoy life. I can't say I miss the old me, I'm sure you're going to find me a nicer person from now on." There was a hint of sorrow in her cheerful voice but Trigger chose to ignore it.

"I never disliked the old Vailla, remember that. Anyway there are lots to show and tell you, your Staff for one will be happy to see you for one and…"

"My Staff is still here? Where?" Vailla interrupted, her voice was demanding.

"Yeah, Laurie has been looking after her. I say her because most of the time she is in her woman form." Trigger explained.

"Please take me to her, now." Vailla's voice was softer but still had a slight edge to it.

Shrugging Trigger led her into the bedroom and reached for the long golden stick that rested on the stick. Vailla almost pushed Trigger aside and grasp her Staff, within seconds her hands began to burn slightly and Vailla dropped it on the bed. "You don't recognise me?" Vailla asked.

"I cannot see. You are a stranger to me. The only way I can recognise people is from their touch or by the energy they generate. Please tell me who you are and why you grabbed me like that." It was certainly the same voice Vailla remembered but something seemed different. Then she remembered that without her magic she was producing a different, yet normal energy. She sighed sadly and looked over towards Trigger, who looked a little confused, nothing new there; of course he had not heard the Staff speak as it spoke to her within her mind. So her magic really was gone.

"I'd thought you may be able to recognise my voice at least, I'm sorry for not telling you who I am. I know I generate different energy signals now, that's what happen when you lose your magic." She felt the Staff grow impatient so she quickly hurried on. "I'm Vailla, your old master so to speak. I have returned from the dead but my magic and my privacy was the price I paid. You cannot see in that form, change into her form that you are so fond of, the form of my ancestor and your first master." Vailla smiled as she watched it slowly change into the form of a beautiful woman with long black hair and green vibrant eyes. Those eyes quickly filled with tears and she swung her arms round Vailla tightly.

"I'm sorry I didn't recognise you, but you've changed so much. I thought Morge was trying to fool me by saying you were coming home." She cried.

"Morge knew? Well what do you know, the link must still be there." Vailla laughed half to herself. "He can't be a very happy demon."

"Actually he doesn't seem very upset or angry about anything last time he came here." Trigger added.

"He comes to visit you too? And doesn't try to eat you lot? What an amazing thing."

"He tells us he is here to keep an eye on the wizards in Laces, though when he is here he always stays round the house and hardly ever goes into Laces itself. He talks about you, he says not so flattering things about though. Actually some of the things he says makes us want to sprinkle holy water on him." Trigger sighed regretfully. "But he did help us defeat your father so we tolerate him for now."

"Don't worry about him, he insults to replace other emotions such as fear, confusion and even love. Though that may just be an excuse, but I believe it to be true."

"Shows how much you know you silly human." Vailla turned round sharply to see Morge leaning against the doorframe. "You took your time to come back didn't you?" The shiver that he used to send up her spine was now gone, it was like meeting a normal human friend.

"If I knew you were here I would of taken longer." Vailla replied coolly. "How have you been? Still waiting for that fight?"

"Which one? The Demon War? Or the fight against you? Considering the circumstances I hardly believe you can beat me unless you have some way to conjure up magic." He sniggered.

"You know I've only just met you but already I want to slap you." Came a laughing voice from behind Morge. The demon turned round to see the steady eyes of an elf staring back at him.

"Well what do you know, I've met an elf. Tell me do I get a pot of gold as my prize or do I get to eat Miss Pointy Ears?" Morge replied coolly. Vailla could see where this was heading. Vilah was just as stubborn and easy to argue with as Morge was; this was going to be a very long and tiring fight so she turned to Trigger.

"Lets leave them to it, I got a feeling this is going to be a long day." She sighed theatrically and looked over at the two creatures she was linked with. "And I bet I'll have to be the one to clear it all up." The three of them was about to walk out of the room leaving the demon and the elf but before Vailla left Morge looked over towards her.

"Before you go there is something I must tell you. The War stands of a thread, one slip up and it will start." Vailla froze; this could not be good.

Trigger had not heard what Morge had said to her because he had spoken quietly and Trigger had gone into the other room by then, but Vailla decided not to tell him anyway. If by any chance she would have to fight because the war had came to pass, she would not allow Trigger or the others to become involved. Her thoughts were interrupted by a light tapping on her foot, she glance down to see a pair of gorgeous bug eyes staring at her lovingly. "Hayley!" She scooped the small creature into her arms and tickled her nose while giggling gleefully. Trigger looked at her in shock, he had never seen her behave in this way before, but losing her magic had bound to have an affect on her. "I've missed you so much."

"She has been a little treasure, hardly ever causing a fuss." Galdine called from the kitchen.

"Are you sure it's the same Hayley we're talking about? This adorable little wimber-woki once stole so much food from the tavern in Wrendore that they actually offered an award to anyone who caught her." Hayley looked guiltily up at her. "Don't worry Hayley, you needn't go to that place again."

"So do you want to live with us? Jads and I can make you an extra room but for the mean while you can have mine and I'll sleep in the living room." Trigger offered.

"I got to take a trip next week, but if its no trouble could I stay here until I go? Then when I return I'd love to live with you all but if its too much trouble I'll find somewhere close to live."

"Where you going?" Trigger asked disappointingly.

"Well technically I live in Wrendore, my house is there and everything. No doubt there are squatters by now but I want to go home to say goodbye to some old…friends." She spoke the words `friends' bitterly, almost as if at that moment she had a nasty taste in her mouth, and Trigger could not ignore the slight longing her eyes. "Well they're more Morge's friends then mine, but I got to talk to them. I never had any real friends back there, none that I miss any road."

"Well why don't I come with you? I've never been to Wrendore before and I've heard it's an interesting experience." Trigger offered, but it seemed to Vailla to be more of a plea than an offer.

"Come with me? Well I don't know, I'd had to ask Vilah-"

"I don't mind!" Vilah shouted helpfully from the other room. Vailla was at a loss; she didn't know what to say. She finally sighed and gave in.

"Sure you can come if you want." Vailla huffed and then plopped herself down on the chair. "It'll be exactly like the old days!" Trigger was unsure what to make of this comment but he decided to take it positively.

"Morge is a little touchy today, so you think we should give him a hug Laurie?" Vilah asked wickedly.

"Yeah!" Laurie swung her arms around Morge and Vilah soon followed. Trigger and Vailla could see this room the other rooms and both burst into laugher.

"I swear I'm gonna kill you Pointy Ears!" Morge wailed. He did not lash out as other demons may have, because he knew if he hurt the little kid he would pay dearly. So instead he struggled and moaned but their grasp was tight and eventually he gave up and spread his wings, ready to fly off but now he had the problem of the roof being in the way. "Damn humans." He mumbled and he let them inflict those smothering hugs.

A week had past. Vailla had enjoyed herself doing normal things such as chores and games, these were the things she was never able to do before. Trigger had kept by her side, he was there when she woke up and there were she went to sleep, she enjoyed his company but what she enjoyed the most was living a life that was complete, living a life were she had gotten her revenge. Morge had also stayed on, he wanted to travel back to Wrendore with Vailla but his life was a living misery in that one week. Days filled with cuddles and insults, no freedom for the demon that just wanted to rip the pointy ears from her head. Vailla had found this amusing at first, but as the days wore on it grew tiresome, and since she share a connection with both of them she could never be away from them. Today was the day Jads was suppose to return home, and everyone was excited, especially Vailla. Trigger was out chopping wood when Vailla asked Galdine what time Jads would return. "He should be home by dark, it depends what the trail is like if you know what I mean." Galdine answered, she was preparing breakfast and Laurie as usual was trying to help. "He'll get a shock when he see you."

"I can imagine it now, you should of seen the look on your faces when you first saw me, it was classic." Vailla laughed. "I've been meaning to ask you, now that we're alone." Laurie made a little squeak. "Now that all three of us are alone. Did you ever go back home, your original home I mean. Your parents must be worried."

"I did go home, and told them I planned to marry Jads. My father didn't approve but my mother gave us her blessings. She was the one who gave us enough money to build this house."

"It must have been weird returning to the nobility after all that had happened. I don't mean that to be insulting or nothing but I bet you looked at them a little differently."

"I must admit I did, it was strange going back. I know I couldn't live there now, not with anything that has happened." Galdine admitted.

"Well, it's strange but I can't wait to get back home and see that old place again, though I'll prefer living here. Its safer." She smiled and looked towards the door. Even though her magic had gone, she still had the ability to sense things, important things and right now she sense that any minute now Jads would come through that door. Sure enough, the door slowly creaked open, and they could hear Trigger and Jads' voices talking to each other. They walked into the room, Jads had not yet noticed Galdine and Vailla was in the kitchen.

"Jads, is that you?" Galdine ask, already knowing the answer. She too couldn't wait to see the expression on Jads' face.

"Yes dear." He replied happily as he walked through into the kitchen. He swept over and gave Galdine a kiss on the cheek; he had not yet noticed Vailla.

"Honey, we have company." Galdine blushed and looked at Vailla. Jads followed her gaze to see a young girl standing there, a young girl long thought dead.

"I…I don't believe it!" And with that he wrapped his tree-trunk arms around Vailla in a friendly embrace. "You're alive!"

Jads had been easier to convince than the others and for this Vailla was thankful. Morge had been annoying as usual, but it was strange. Morge was a demon, when Vailla first met him all those years ago he was a regular, cheeky and bloodthirsty demon that would not think twice of eating a child but now he seemed careful not to hurt anyone, even when Vilah gave him one of her hugs. She had decided to start her journey a week from now, Jads had also decided that he would come along but Laurie and Galdine planned to stay at home. At the moment she had escaped into the meadow where she was found some rope and was playing around with it, tying knots and trying to lasso certain things. "Vailla tell him to stop it!" Her elf companion had managed to find her.

"Leave me alone! Can't I get a moment peace?" Vailla begged and feigned tears but Vilah just ignored this.

"He's picking on me again, he keep chucking fruit at me!" She complained and it was now Vailla's turn to ignore.

"Had enough have you? Well maybe next time you shouldn't even bother talking to me!" Morge voice screamed and he soon sent a small tomato into orbit, it went whizzing pass Vilah and hit Vailla right in the face. Calmly the ex-sorceress wiped around the fruit and stood up facing them both.

"From the moment I got here you two have been fighting like children even though I know you're both a lot older than me. I've tolerated this, turned a blind eye once and twice. I even kept my mouth shut when you broke Galdine's plate. But now I've had enough! I've had it up to here with your games!" Her voice was dangerously calm and it made them nervous. "I may of lost my magic, but I know another to sort you two out." She looked as though she wasn't going to do anything at first but then all of a sudden she charged at them, picking up a stick as she did so and hit them both round the legs so hard that they both fell over. Before they had a chance to stand Vailla grabbed both of their hands and tied them together with her rope. She had been practising knots all morning at so tied the two nuisances together. "There you go, nice and friendly now. You children be good and work together nicely to untie yourselves or I'll whack you both with this little stick I managed to pick up."

"I'll slice your throat!" Morge threatened, but Vailla just laughed and hit him round the head with her stick.

"Behave yourself." Vilah found this amusing and she too laughed but her laughter was cut short when Vailla hit her with the stick as well. "Now lets try that again."

It took them over four hours to escape from Vailla's rope and by the end of it they were too tired to fight Vailla. Morge had been forbidden to use his claws in this task and so they twisted and turned, tumbled and screamed until finally Vilah managed to get her nimble fingers into the knot, which Morge held up for her. Right now Vailla relaxed in the living room with her friends, the fire burned that welcome glow that fires always do when you are home. Morge and Vilah went to bed early, they seemed to have learnt something today but Vailla knew that this would be short lived and soon they'll be fighting again. "So I told him that he could shove than fish where the sun don't shine, even a child could tell it was not fresh!" Jads told them of his few weeks at the fish market and they all listened.

"If I'd been there I would have pushed him in the dock, are they all so rude down there? Or is it just a few stubborn idiots?" Vailla asked and she turned her gave from the fired.

"They're not all that bad, just a few you'd want to pound is all. Anyway if you'd have been there you would have gave me a shock big enough for me to fall in the dock myself." Jads laughed.

"I was going to go into Laces before I came here, but I didn't get the chance with Little Miss Pointy in there, she must of led me all around Sambi. She's worse than me when it comes to getting into trouble!" Vailla sighed theatrically. "Elves!"

"She is a bit on the adventurous side I've noticed, though I think its part of her charm. You two are well paired." Galdine replied softly.

"A little too well paired, I used to be just like that before my mother passed away. Its actually scary some of the things she do are exactly like the things I did when I was a child." She looked back into the flames, and then she remembered something. "Was anything said about the death of their `Priest'? I bet they blamed me again."

"Well actually they did, but they believe you to be dead too so a few wanted posters went up but after a month or so they were gone. I don't think you got nothing to worry about there." Trigger explained.

"They wouldn't recognise me now anyway, not without the scars." She looked at Jads face almost sadly and then laughed. "I bet you don't miss your little friend."

"The scar? I haven't even noticed it was gone." He too joined in with the laugher.

"So what will you be doing once you get to Wrendore?" Galdine asked casually.

"Wrendore? Well like I said I must talk to some people I know there, but really I'd like to see it one last time before I leave it for good. After all I've been there for nearly all my life. Also my mother is there, I'd like to say a final goodbye to her." Vailla replied, her voice was not filled with the same kind of sadness and regret when she used to speak of her mother.

"Your mum? I thought she was…" Jads began and Vailla just smiled.

"Dead? She is, but her grave is still at Wrendore. I know the body does not really matter once you move onto the next plane but I'm still emotionally attached to the fact that she is still here physically."

"We understand." Trigger smiled. "I gotta see Madlien too, if you don't mind it on our way there."

"Who's Madlien?" Galdine asked.

"She looked after Laurie and I after our parents died. She was a busy woman, and after her husband died she had to take care of that inn all by herself so she didn't have much time to care for us though she did try her best. That's why when I was old enough I started getting money so I could pay people to look after Laurie until she was old enough to join me. I swear I told this before." Trigger replied.

"No I don't think so. I would of liked to have met her but I better stay and look after the house. Oh well, I'm going off to bed now so good night." Galdine gave them all a kiss goodnight, and walked towards her bedroom. "Oh and Jads don't stay up too long, I need someone to keep the bed warm." She winked and walked into her bedroom. Jads laughed.

"You better not keep her waiting. Go to bed Jads, you look tired." Trigger said slyly.

"I don't think he'll get much sleep tonight." Vailla disagreed.

"You two are just kids, you're meant to be innocent." Jads replied sourly.

"I'm ageless actually. I have lived generations, and I know more than I did back before. I know that Galdine is waiting for you." Vailla laughed. Jads actually blushed and escaped into his bedroom.

"What did you mean by that?" Trigger asked once Jads had left. Vailla was still laughing.

"You've heard Vilah's little riddles haven't you? The same applied to me. Sine that even took place I am more than what I seem though I am a normal human now. I cannot put it into words, it is impossible, just trust me on this one." She yawned and stretched. "I think I'll call it a day now too. Are you sure you don't mind he using your room Trigs?"

"Don't call me that, please?" He asked in a pained voice. " Of course I don't mind."

"Well if u ever want your room back please just say. I've been living in a tree for the last month, I'm not bothered if I don't sleep in a bed." She gave him a kiss goodnight on the cheek and walked into the bedroom, leaving Trigger to settle into a night's sleep in the living room.

Two weeks had past and the five of them were already a week into their journey. They had enjoyed it, well most of them did except Morge who hated to be slowed down by these silly humans, who went so slow even though their horses were doing the walking for them. He often flew ahead, and then waited for them. Right now he waited about an hour ahead of them while they plotted along at a steady pace. Vailla was starting to feel the grime of the road, normally it didn't bother her but today she felt like she would really like a bath. She told the two guys that she and Vilah was going to have a bath by the waterfall slightly ahead of them and if they wondered too close she'll take away their manhood.

The waterfall crashed into the river below, the midday sun warmed its clear waters. Vilah and Vailla sunk into the water with a sigh, it was still a little cold but once they were used to the water they warmed up. "So are you and Trigger going to get married then?" Vilah asked cheekily as she slashed her unsuspecting friend.

"I don't know, we'll see what all this brings. You do know why we're going to Wrendore don't you? I know I haven't talked to you but I assumed Morge would say something to you since he's such a blabbermouth." Vailla quickly dunked her head underwater to get her hair wet and then tied it back into a bun.

"Not really. The only thing he blabbered was insults. I'm not really bothered to tell the truth, being alive is good enough for me, I really don't mind these little journeys."

"Being alive is great I'll grant you, but if anything goes wrong with this meeting in Wrendore there are going to be a lot of lives lost. You know about the wizards and the demons that were under my father's control. After I killed the evil bastard Laurie sent his demons back into the Abyss. We assumed since their army of demons were gone the wizards would admit defeat and leave them in peace. Now for whatever reason a War is nearly starting, I don't know all the information yet but that's why were going to Wrendore to find out. But the only reasons the other demons like Morge would get involved if they are threatened, so what I can figure, there is another person that threatens their `master' and their freedom otherwise they'd just sit back and watch. After all if this world was destroyed they can always move on another. A wizard isn't strong enough to challenge a demon in anyway and win, so its got to be some one stronger. I'm worried about this, but what really sucks is that I cannot do anything to help them. The only way a mortal human could be any use is if she had magic and as you know I'm a little low on that factor." She sighed regretfully and climbed out of the water and started to dry herself off with a large green cloth that was used as a towel.

"That is a problem we have then isn't it? If only more elves were alive! They were always ready to help the humans if the Earth was threatened. Well they were until the humans destroyed them." Vilah copied her friend and began to dry herself with another cloth. "But I don't hold a grudge. I know it was only one bad apple with a grudge and some power that did the job. It was like that when my brother went crazy and decided to rule the world." She laughed and sat down on a rock. "I always knew he'd b the first to go crazy in my family. Anyway we've both know the true power of magic, good and evil. I know what damaged one wizard could do if he hasn't got any resistance. Anyway I'm sure we'll get this sorted, since when did the good side ever lose a fight?"

"True." Vailla laughed at that. "Morge is a strange demon, he has almost got feelings. You know what I went through because you were there and he was a big help. Don't go too hard on him, because after all we're on the same side."

"Its strange being on the same side as demons, after all they are evil but I suppose they don't care as long as they get what they want. Well what you going to do if your theory is true?"

"I don't know, but I gotta do something."

"Don't forget you're only fifteen, you're still a kid."

"Fifteen? Well it's a good thing someone keeps track of my age, I don't. Come to think of it my birthday was only four weeks ago, isn't that strange?" By now Vailla was putting her clothes back on and so was Vilah, within minutes they were cleaned, dressed and ready. "Well stuff happens, my age doesn't really matter does it? What is meant to happen will happen and no one, not even Jove can stop that. Lets go and meet up with the boys again, I'm sure they're fed up of waiting."

"Yeah sure." And with that Vilah skipped off and then quite abruptly fell over and landed into a mud and then laughed, got back off and skipped a little more carefully away after the boys. And she called me a child? Vailla found herself asking.

She walked after Vilah in her own pace, se wasn't the one to go skipping off into the sunset. When she arrived all three was staring at her what looked like disbelief. Feeling a little afraid and more than a little confused she angrily pulled herself together. "What?" She demanded.

"Your face…what happened?" Trigger stuttered. This annoyed Vailla, she didn't look that bad did she?

"What about me face?" She snapped angrily. They didn't answer quickly enough for her liking so she ran back to the river to take a look at her reflection. She slammed her fists angrily into the water as if to banish what she saw and screamed in frustration. Then without even knowing why she swung round and punched a tree as if to relieve her frustration and anger, she had done this plenty of times before and now weren't any different. She didn't even feel the pain as her hand hit the rough bark of the tree and so she repeatedly kicked and punched it until Trigger pulled her away.

"Come on Vailla I'm sure that tree has had enough."

"Its not fair! What does this mean?" She wailed and then collapsed in Trigger's arms.

She wasn't sure how long she was out for but when she woke up the river with a damp cloth of her head and a blanket covering her body laid her. The first thing she saw was the sky, it had grown that dusky colour of the evening sky of this time of year. Dizzily she sat up and the first things she noticed were all the scars. Like the scar across her cheek they were old and familiar. She did not know what all this meant, and that was what frustrated her the most. "Morge?" She was surprise to see the demon waiting by her side; the others were not in sight.

"Stupid human." He muttered and then crawled closer to her. "Aren't you the little scar face again?"

"Shut up." She snapped. "Anyway you know more about why stuff like this happens than I do, so what does this mean? And where are the others?"

"The others have gone to back camp a little further away from the river, I promised not to eat you even though Vilah is hiding in that tree over there." Morge pointed to a rather large and busy tree, Vailla look but couldn't see her. "And I thought Elves were meant to be skilled hunters, she can't even hide properly."

"Whatever. What about the scars? What is it about?" Vailla asked eagerly.

"Well to put it bluntly I think they need you again, it's stupid really. Laurie is a great sorceress as you know but she is not a warrior, even Vilah should be getting her magic back soon."

"Magic? So I'm getting it back?" She thought a while about it. "My magic, my scars, what about my death? Will I be getting that back too?"

"No, as long as you don't get yourself killed you won't be returning. After all they owe you don't they? The scars are symbols of your old life, the life you had with magic. It makes sense if you think about it."

"I suppose so." She sighed and looked din the direction in which Morge had told her Vilah was hiding. "You can come out now, I want to talk to you Vilah." There was a small rustle of trees, bushes and finally a few trigs snapping on the ground. Vilah came into the clearing with a sour look on her face.

"The old scars are back, and ready for the new." She told Vailla glumly. Strangely this was the first riddle that Vailla almost understood and she nodded her head glumly. Vilah held onto her right arm where it had been horribly burnt from her hand to her elbow.

"I see you got your scars back then, mental and physical, the same as me. Its going to be like old times Vilah, are you ready?" Vailla asked but Vilah looked blankly at her.

"He did this to me when I was only ten years old. When I found out he had been the one who killed my parents and went to kill him, I had the dagger so close to him but he turned round and stopped me. The only way he could get the dagger from my grasp was to thrust it into the fire, burning his hand in the process that was how I escaped him after the attack. I was reminded every day of what my brother had done, to my family and me every time I looked at this arm. Then after I died I didn't see it no more, and it was as though most of my pain I felt was taken away from me. Now its back, and I'm once again reminded of the scars of my past. Why us Vailla? We never did anything to deserve what has happened." Vilah had to hold back a sob and Vailla quickly rushed to her side and embraced her. She wasn't sure if it was to comfort Vilah or herself, but she hugged the small elf nonetheless. She could hear Morge making gagging noises in the background but she ignored him.

"I don't know Vilah, it seems after we've destroyed one threat we are faced with another. Maybe this will be the last time?" Vailla asked hopefully.

"Maybe."