On a hilltop a few miles from the city a bright light erupted, shining for a few seconds, only to vanish leaving two people on the ground. Kayla pulled herself up, bewildered and turning around herself scanning the new landscape. She didn’t entirely understand what had happened, but she knew the facts.

The stranger had grabbed her and taken her away, with some magical device, and most importantly: against her will. She marched over to him furiously, wanting to hit and scream at him.

But he was unconscious, just lying there.

“So you just took me away, and conveniently fall unconscious!! You made me abandon them!” She threw insult after insult till she was empty, while furiously walking about. Once or twice she even almost kicked the unconscious man, but reconsidered. Her upbringing had taught her otherwise. Finally she just sat next to him, fuming.

She had been a servant, one the others respected. Hallas, her brother had made sure of that at first, but she alone had maintained their respect. Where was Hallas? This unconscious guy had said that her brother had sent him.

She turned around and gently took his hood off, revealing the man’s face.

This man was extremely good-looking. Almost other worldly-like, under that stolen helmet of his. She took his helmet off, and then noticed a curious thing. His ears were unnatural, pointed, and longer than normal.

“Holy Mother, this is an elf... My brother sent an elf to save me...” She had read quite a few stories about elves, protectors of maidens and that kind of stuff. She tried to separate what was true and what was fairytale, while stroking his surreal ears. Elves were enthrallingly beautiful creatures, and some insisted on the rumour that they were immortal, although they were certainly very long lived. But they were also vengeful, it was said. There were other stories about that, where they lost a loved one and went on long quests of vengeance, but she couldn’t exactly remember them.

All of sudden he grunted and raised his hand to his ear, giving her a shock. She didn’t pull her fingers away quick enough, and for s split second their hands touched.

But then she quickly grabbed after his sword and pulled it out of its sheath. He opened his eyes, which quickly focused on her, and the sword on his throat.

“May I know what it is that you think you’re doing?”He calmly asked.

“I know what you are, and you’re going to answer my questions.” She said, with her heart beating so fast and hard that she was surprised he couldn’t hear it.

He sat up slowly, and then began gently pushing the sword away with his index and middle finger. “Do not do something that you will regret later.”

She shook her head, denying what he was saying. Kayla then lifted the sword with both hands and tried to hit him with it. She unconsciously closed her eyes at the moment of the hit, but it was promptly stopped by something, and she opened her eyes when she heard him giggle.

“Seriously? A little advice: next time, don’t hit with the flat side of the sword...” He said with an unbearable grin. She became as red as possible, dying from embarrassment. “Now, all joking aside, you clearly have no idea how to handle this, which is why I will be taking it back.” He took the sword out of her hands, and she offered no resistance.

“I’m sorry, it’s just, you kidnapped me, and then I discover you’re an elf, and then...” She began mumbling confusedly.

“I know, I know, and don’t worry, no harm was done.” He said while putting the blade back in its sheath. “Now let us get some distance between us and that god-forsaken city.” He started walking in the opposite direction of the city, which could be seen in the horizon thanks to the smoke coming from it.

“But what about Hallas? Isn’t he coming to join us?” She asked, walking after him. “He’s not staying to save people is he?”

“Oh about that... I am afraid he died while saving you.” Gil turned around slowly to be able to see in her eyes while saying it.

“What...?” She got a blank look on her face. “What? He’s... No that’s impossible.”

Gil stayed silent. He had never dealt with such a situation before and didn’t know what to say. They started walking again, this time in complete silence.

Kayla felt like her world had just been destroyed. Her friends were probably dead now, the city where she had grown up was burned to the ground, and her brother, her only family died saving her from that same fate. Her mother was a head-servant to a kind noble family, who had assured Hallas’ way into the guard, and her way into the royalty’s servants. But she had died at her birth, and her father was unknown.

“He sacrificed his life for mine...”She whispered.

“And I am sure that he would do it all over again. And that he would not want you to be so sad over his death.” Gil said, after having pondered for quite a long time on what to say, this was the best he could think of.

“I don’t care what he wants! I want him to live! Give him back! Why did this happen to us?” She suddenly screamed, before breaking down, crying.

This didn’t only happen to you, it happened to all people in Mitgard and too many people to count through the centuries, Gil thought, but wisely kept it to himself.

It was night, and they were walking alone in the plains. Gil decided that they would sleep on top of the hill, as Kayla was too tired to continue. Kayla just sat down where she was, still mourning her brother. It didn’t take long for her to fall asleep.

In the morning, she woke up fresh, although the world still seemed without colours to her.

Gil was just sitting cross-legged, watching. He had changed from the soldier’s clothes to a simple white silk shirt, with grey silk pants. Simple, but extremely expensive clothes she thought.

“Have you been up all night?” She asked, while sitting up.

“Yes. More importantly, we are travelling to Andrath, The White City in the kingdom of Tarnor. I thought you would want to know.” Tarnor was the oldest kingdom of Men, where the High-Kings of the line of Amondil ruled from their throne in Andrath.

“But that’s 400 miles from here! Do you even know how to get there?” She asked hysterically. “I can’t possibly walk that far...”

“We should soon reach a road a little more north, which we will just have to follow. It longs the border of those mountains you see in the north.” He pointed to the horizon, where you could spot a few of them. “I have little food left, but we will buy provisions and equipment in the next village we come across.” He gave her a little smile, “and a couple of horses.”

They ate dried meat from his bag and then left. They left behind the soldier’s equipment, as to not trouble themselves with too much weight.

They found the pave road a little while later. It was only in Tarnor where you find such roads, as the kingdom had deployable huge resources to built them hundreds of years ago.

They eventually hit a village, where they bought some food, but there were no camping equipment or horses that they were willing to sell. Gil used silver he had hidden in his boots to pay them, but Kayla did all the talking, as they didn’t want to stand out. Gil’s accent was very unique.

They bought a pack horse in a small town they passed through, that now carried Kayla on top of the supplies half of the day, while she walked the rest of the time, because she started to complain about how it hurt riding so long.

As the day passed Kayla seemed better, and tried not to think too much of the past, staying in the moment. They rarely talked, and when they did it was just trivial chatting.

They where half on their way to Andrath, and they made camp in a light forest. They sat on the soil around a small bonfire with a roasting rabbit over it. Kayla interrupted the silence which they had eventually gotten used to though, to the point that it wasn’t awkward anymore.

“Why did you save us?” She asked, her eyes locked in the burning flames. “I mean, why specifically us? There were many people in that city that needed help.”

“I’m not sure. Because I could? Because your brother had a true hero’s heart? Or simply a sudden impulse? I cannot know for sure.”

She meditated on that answer for a little time.

“But how did you teleport us?”

“I have... Powers. And I used them to fuel an artefact. It was only an one time use.” He took his necklace out, and watched it a little. “Actually, my powers are the reason that I am going to Andrath. I seek a wizard to learn from.” He said, and put the necklace back under the shirt.

“Well you did transport us several miles in a flash. I had already guessed that you had powers.” She said with a little smile. The first since her brother died, and Gil didn’t fail to notice that.

He lightly laughed. “What a smart woman.”

“I am.” She said. “What’s going to happen to me now?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it, once in Andrath. Until then, enjoy the trip; we still have many days of travel ahead of us.”He smiled. She nodded, and they went to bed. Gil had decided to sleep too now, this close to the road.

*

It was a pleasant late morning when the road passed a hilltop, which made them able to see a magnificent view.

The landscape was flat and full of flourishing wheat fields, with a river passing through. After the river, there was a large city which occupied much of the horizon, with tall and multiple ring walls that ended in a high mountain behind it. A castle was built into the mountain, with high towers and walls, a huge white structure. In the horizon, other mountains were present, although none of them as tall as the first one.

“Andrath, the White Citadel of the High-Kings.” Gil said, he was confident and magnificent Kayla thought, as he was standing with his arms crossed. A little fresh breeze came stroking their faces, making their long hair wave.

It took them most of the day, but they did arrive at the foot of the city before nightfall.

A large wall extended before them, spreading for miles in both ways, with a huge and thick steel gate before them. Carriages and people using the same road as them came into the city, few going out this close to nightfall, as the gates closed in the night.

As they entered, they noticed four vigilant guards were standing at the gate, two at each side. They wore steel helmets that covered the nose, while the steel that protected the cheeks was formed as two symmetrical swan wings. Their body was partially covered in plate armour: the forearms, torso, tibia and shoulders. The rest were protected by chainmail and hardened leather.

They held spears in their right hand, carried short swords on their side and had long oval formed shields strapped to their back. When they walked path them, they saw a white swan emblem on their shields, on a blue background.

The two walked through the streets, and soon found a clean and welcoming inn. They paid for one room and for dinner. The food menu that evening was beef stew and potatoes, with bread.

“Tomorrow, we will go to the castle, to see the king.” Gil said between two mouthfuls.

“Just like that? You think he’ll accept?” She asked doubtfully, trying not to let the intense excitement take her over. There was a chance after all that she was going to meet the High-King of Tarnor, probably the most powerful human of this time.

“Of course he is. He owes us at least that much.”

“Why should the High-King of Tarnor owe you?” She said amused.

Gil looked up from his food with an enigmatic expression. “You would be surprised.”

“Come on, tell me!” She pleaded.

“Well, we elves mostly built this castle.” He said smiling.

“Really? How did that happen?” She rested her head on her hand, with the elbow on the table, impatiently waiting for the story.

“That’s a story for another time. Let’s go to sleep.” He said with smug grin, making her sulk a little. They left the table and walked upstairs, finding their room.

“Wait, one more question. How old are you really?”

“I am actually quite young, I just came of age.” He said like it would explain it all. Then he glanced at her, and saw her puzzled expression. “Oh sorry, it means I’m a little over my coming of age, 154 years old exactly.”

“You’re like older than the old men...” She said giggling.

“Right...” He glanced at her with a knowing smile. “Amongst elves, that’s really young though, compared to eternity.”

“I guess... I still think its quite old.” She said.

“I prefer mature and wise.” He said, which made her laugh. They arrived before the room, and Gil took the key out.

“Wait... One room for the two of us?” Kayla said, slightly blushing, but keeping a dignified expression.

“You really expected me to pay for two? I barely got anything left...” He said with a charming smile, he opened the door with a slight bow. “Ladies first.”

Kayla smiled and entered the room, and thanked him politely, as she had seen the noble ladies to so many times during her time as a servant. She rather enjoyed being in that position.

They entered the room, and went to sleep in the comfortable bed. Or Kayla did, while Gil obviously slept on the floor.