Chapter 4, (Not yet named.)

Chapter 4 1

Thain quietly climbed down from the branch he was sitting on. He pulled out his sword as soon as his foot touched the ground. The goblin heard him and gave out a horrid war cry.2

The goblin had long stringy black hair that was tied into a messy knot. There were scars and bruises decorating the goblins face showing that it had been in many years of battle. Its face was distorted; it almost looked like it had been shattered and put back together with missing pieces. It had pale green skin and large pointy, pierced, and torn ears.3

Thain walked over to the clearing where the goblin stood. It snarled and lifted its black sword up. It took a swing at Thain, but to the goblins surprise, there was a loud clang that echoed through the forest as Thain stopped its sword. The goblin took another swing at Thain, another loud clang rang out. This happened numerous times, like a great dance, both the goblin and Thain twirled around ducking and jumping, making a consistent rhythm with their swords. All of a sudden, Thain had a sudden burst of energy, when their swords met, he did not pull back, instead he pushed harder while leaning in. the goblin flashed its yellow teeth then laughed. It suddenly kicked Thain in the stomach, then it kicked Thain’s arm, sending his sword in the air and straight into a tree. The goblin smiled and swung it’s sword at Thain. Thain dodged the sword and ran to the tree that his sword was stuck in. He yanked out his sword just in time to stop the goblin’s blade from hurting him. The whole routine of jumping, ducking, and spinning broke out again, along with the sound of the two blades hitting each other. Soon, Thain could see the weariness in the goblin’s yellow eyes. He realized then what he had to do. Thain stepped back prepared to swing, as the goblin spun around expecting Thain to stop its sword. Thain swung at the goblin’s leg, slicing it off. The goblin dropped its sword and hollered in pain as it staggered to the ground. 4

“Please, don’t kill me,” it said in between blood hurling screams. “It was not my choice,”5

Thain felt confused to this, he was not sure what to do. All of a sudden, he felt sorry for the goblin. He stepped back and lowered his sword. The goblin let out a deep breath. Thain watched the creature wince as it wrapped its wound with a piece of torn brown cloth from its cloths. 6

Just then, Thain heard a familiar sound, it almost sounded like a light twing, then a whistling sound. 7

Thain helplessly watched as an arrow shot out of the forest and through the goblin’s back. Immediately the goblin fell, face forward to the ground, feathers sticking out of a wet red spot on the goblins back.8

Thain lifted his sword back up. He looked around trying to find any movement from the forest. There he saw a person in a hooded cloak walking.9

“Who’s there?” asked Thain. 10

The person stopped walking and turned toward Thain. The cloaked person started walking toward Thain. Finally, the person reached the clearing. 11

“Show your face!” demanded Thain.12

The person pulled the hood down. Her dark brown hair blew in the wind. Her dark eyes glistened. 13

“You should know never to listen to a goblin, especially when it is pleading for your mercy,” she told him. 14

“Aven!” Thain laughed as he embraced her. 15

“When did you get out of the kings army?” he asked.16

“Oh, about two sun cycles ago. You know, your mother needs you, Thain,” she said.17

Thain sat down and sighed. 18

“Why should I come to her aid when she was never there to come to mine?” he asked.19

“Stop being so bitter,” said Aven as she sat down next to Thain. 20

She moved a lose strand of his dark hair out of his face and tucked it behind his ear. 21

“Thain, I know you do not take too kindly to your family, but eventually you’ll have to go back. You can’t keep avoiding them forever,” Aven said while rubbing her old friends back.22

“I do go back. I go back there a lot!” said Thain.23

“Yes, but you hid your face,” she sighed.24

“Aven, you’re making this up. You know very well that my family doesn’t even know that I still exist,” he said quietly. 25

“Well,” she stood up and put her hands on her hips, “I wouldn’t lie to you unless it was for your own good, and this is no exception,” she said.26

Thain nodded.27

“You have a point, and I know I should probably listen to what you’re saying, but I just can’t pull myself to it, the grudge goes too far.” Thain said.28

His face saddened as his crystal blue eyes lowered, he was remembering his lonely childhood of scavenging for food in the streets as his parents, and brother and sister ate their hot, fresh, and delicious food. He remembered having to be an apprentice just so that he could have a place to stay. His lonely past was always coming back to haunt him.29

Thain shook his head trying to get rid of his flashback.30

Aven looked at him. 31

“I know it’s hard, but could you at least think about it?” she asked.32

“Did you follow me all this way to tell me this?” he asked.33

“No, I’m on official business from the king,” she answered.34

“Which king are you talking about, and what kind of business does he want you to do for him?” Thain asked. 35

“Our king, he wanted me to find the Shadains.” Aven said.36

Why?” he asked.37

“Why are you so interested?” she asked.38

“Aven, tell me,” demanded Thain.39

Aven took a deep breath.40

“The Wood Nymphs have taken the welding forest. They might try to attack  Paton village,” she said quietly.41

Thain jumped up from the ground.42

“Hermle lives there!” Thain said. 43

“That’s why I didn’t want to tell you,” Aven said quietly. 44

Thain grabbed Avens hand and pulled her out of the clearing. 45

“Come on, we’ll get the Shadains and I’ll take Dineth back to her castle. Then I’ll catch up with you.” Thain said.46

“Wait…wait…wait, you know where the Shadains are? And who is Dineth?” she asked.47

“I am accompanying the Shadains, and Dineth is the princess of Picarre,”48

Thain said. “I will tell you all the details later. If the Wood Nymphs do attack Paton village, I know for a fact that Hermle will not fight. I want to be there to fight for him.”49

It was around evening as Aven and Thain ran through the forest. They jumped over large roots and ducked under low branches. Soon, they reached a river that ran through the forest. Its waters were gray and murky. No fish swam in the deep waters, nor did any birds sing in the rivers presents.50

“I do not remember this river being here,” Thain said to himself.51

“I’m not crossing it,” Aven said as she folded her arms. 52

“Aven, I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Are you actually acting lady-like?” Thain laughed.53

“Don’t you know what this river is?” she asked.54

Thain gave her a questioning look.55

“It’s a Night Elf river, the river disappears until a Night Elf needs it, and then it reappears. Everyone who’s anyone knows that!” Aven said giving Thain a slight nudge with her elbow.56

“If Night Elves use it, then it can’t be that deep. So if you don’t want to go in it, I’ll carry you across,” Thain said.57

“Don’t you get it? It’s magic! You can’t just cross it,” Aven said shaking her head.58

“Then what do we do?” he asked.59

“We wait until the Night Elves are done using it, then it will go away and we can be on our ways,” she said.60

Instantly the river turned green and solid. Grass and trees popped up immediately. Everything was still.61

In the grass where the river used to be, lay a silver bracelet. A small patch of sunlight seeped through the trees. It hit at the perfect angle to send beams of light toward Aven and Thain.62

“What’s that?” Aven asked.63

“You tell me,” Thain said as he walked over to the glimmering pieces of metal. 64

“Is that a bracelet?” asked Aven.65

“That’s what it appears to be,” Thain said as he picked it up.66

He brought it over to Aven and held it up.67

Attached to the bracelet was a crescent-moon, it dangled at the end of the bracelet. It had a navy blue jewel at both of the moon tips. 68

“That must belong to a Night Elf,” Aven muttered.”69

“Yeah,” Thain agreed.70

Thain put it in his pocket and walked on. Aven pulled her hood up and followed closely behind him.71

Finally they were out of the forest. They walked over to the Shadain and Dineth who were now on ground taking late afternoon naps. 72

“Wake up!” Thain yelled.73

Dineth sat up immediately, the others slowly sat up and rubbed their eyes or stretched.74

“Getting firewood eh?” laughed Dineth.75

Aven stepped out of the shadows. She pulled her hood off again, sending a friendly sign to the Shadains. Thain and Aven began to explain the whole situation and what was to happen next.76

Dineth sat and listened intently as did the others, bur she couldn’t help but notice the gleaming light coming from Thains pocket.77

After the discussion was over, Thain walked over to Dineth and helped her up.78

“So that Aven girl, she is a relative?” asked Dineth.79

“No, just an old friend,” Thain said as he helped Dineth onto her horse.80

“She we be off?” he asked.81

“Naturally,” she laughed.82

Thain looked over to Aven who was sitting on the back of Kadas horse.83

“I’ll be there as soon as I can!” he yelled.84

Aven nodded and waved just as the Shadains rode off.85

“Ok, let’s go!” Thain said as he shook the reins of the horse.86

Thain and Dineth rode in the opposite direction from where Aven and the Shadains went. 87

Dineth said nothing for most of the ride. She just looked ahead wondering why she had ever wanted to go home.88

© Lauren Carpenter 200589

My Hidden Life90