Chapter 11
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The moment I stepped out of the embassy, the dizzying mix of scents washed over me—smoky fires, earthy soil, and the faint sweetness of wildflowers. The soldiers' tents were gone, replaced by makeshift huts and lean-tos that told the story of survival and resilience. Miko and Hana flanked me, their eyes darting around, scanning the surroundings. I could feel their concern, but I brushed it aside. “Let’s just take a quick look around,” I urged, pushing my hood up to shield my face. “I’ll be careful. It's just the camp and I want to talk to a friend.” I still felt a bit guilty about leaving the way I did and wanted to talk to Myra.

As I walked deeper into the camp, laughter and shouts pulled me toward a clearing. A group of Felinor children were caught up in a game, pretending to battle a massive, imaginary creature that soared through the sky. One boy swung a stick like a sword while a girl with a wild mane of hair mimicked shooting arrows into the air.

“We have to defeat the Sky Serpent!” the boy proclaimed, pointing dramatically.

“And rescue the prince!” the girl chimed in, her eyes wide with excitement.

I couldn’t help but smile. Kneeling to their level and pulling my hood back slightly, I asked, “What’s your adventure today?”

“You can join us!” a girl invited, her eyes sparkling.

“But we need bows to bring it down,” the skeptical boy said, frowning. “Our swords won’t reach it in the sky!”

“What if we use a plane to get it?” I suggested playfully.

The children paused, their expressions shifting from excitement to confusion. “What’s a plane?” one boy asked, tilting his head.

“It’s like a giant metal bird that flies in the sky!” another child interjected, enthusiasm bubbling over.

“Metal is too heavy to fly!” the skeptical boy retorted, crossing his arms.

I leaned in, excitement bubbling within me. “Oh, I know it sounds crazy, but I’ve flown in one! They zoom through the air, faster than anything else!”

“You’re lying!” one girl shouted, her hands on her hips. I couldn't help but giggle at the absurd look of confidence on her face.

Just then, another girl I saw was staring at me and piped up, “You look pretty, and you smell nice!”

Surprised, I blinked at her. I hadn’t expected that. I felt the warmth spread through me, taken aback by my own reaction. “Uh, thanks! But…” I stammered, recovering quickly.

“Who are you?” one of the boys asked, his curiosity evident.

“I’m Lira,” I replied, a smile creeping onto my face.

“I haven’t seen you before!” another child exclaimed, eyes wide.

“I came from that big building over there.” I pointed toward the embassy. The kids began to murmur among themselves.

“The big building? I thought that was just where the nobles are!” one girl said, glancing at the others. I noticed Miko shift uneasily at the mention of us nobles.

“Yeah! But I thought only the grown-ups went there,” another boy chimed in.

“Matron Myra is trying to get into that place a lot!” one of the girls said, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Their chatter piqued my curiosity. Matron Myra? Was Myra trying to get in to talk to me? If that is the case then it is good I decided to take my opportunity to talk to her while I have this chance.

I was still digesting their conversation when I noticed a few adults walking our way, one looking familiar—someone from the embassy. Instinctively, I pulled my hood closer.

Hana and Miko began whispering to me. "We need to go!" I nodded and looked back to the children who stared at me in curiosity, aware of my change of behavior but too innocent to discern the cause.

“You have to keep this a secret from the grown-ups, alright?” I urged, my voice low as I backed away. "I will come play with you again, okay?"

The children eagerly nodded, their faces smudged with dirt and laughter as I stepped back, allowing them to return to their game. I noticed the adults approaching, one walking up to the kids and beginning to talk to them as I moved away, blending into the background.

I felt the weight of my disguise, but it also gave me a sense of freedom. I moved with purpose, weaving through tents and makeshift stalls, my heart racing with anticipation. The atmosphere buzzed with a blend of hope and unease. As I walked, I noticed how roughly the stalls were put together—pieces of fabric and wood haphazardly propped up, a testament to the urgency of survival. It struck me how gaunt some of the people looked, their faces drawn and tired, yet they worked with a determination that was hard to ignore.

Miko pointed toward a small gathering of adults, their hands working diligently to repair a torn tarp. “Look at how resourceful they are,” she murmured, her eyes wide. “I didn’t think they could manage this on their own.”

“They have to,” Hana replied, glancing at a child nearby, her hair matted with dirt and her clothes tattered. “With what little they have, they’re already doing so much. If they can keep this up, they’ll help rebuild the Felinor stronger than ever.” Her voice carried a hint of admiration, but I felt a pang of guilt wash over me. These people were thriving in such dire conditions while I had enjoyed comforts beyond their reach.

“It’s amazing,” I said quietly, my heart aching. “But it’s so unfair.” The weight of their struggles pressed heavily on me, each hardship they faced a reminder of my privilege.

While I moved about the camp some more, I noticed a trend in the construction of the buildings. They were mostly buildings with a central pole in the middle with many layers set around them. Much like a tent though some were built with four walls, partially buried in the ground. Many Felinor moved about performing a myriad of tasks.

As I wandered deeper into the camp, my curiosity piqued when I noticed half a structure surrounded by a gathering crowd. I moved closer, intent on seeing what was happening. As I got nearer, the atmosphere shifted; several men were frantically digging through the rubble, their voices raised in desperate shouts.

“Help! We need help over here!” one of them called out, his face smeared with dirt and urgency. I felt a knot form in my stomach, but I hesitated, instinctively pulling my hood tighter around my face. The weight of the moment pressed on me, and my mind raced with the need to remain undetected. I glanced around and noticed the crowd gathering, concern etched on their faces.

What if someone from the Embassy comes by and sees me here? The thought sent a jolt of anxiety through me.

“Come on, we have to move this!” another man shouted, his hands digging desperately through the debris. It was then that I realized it was a hut that had fallen in on itself, the cries of frightened voices muffled beneath the wreckage.

“Someone, please! We need more hands!” the first man urged again, his voice cracking with panic.

In that moment, the desperation in his tone struck a chord deep within me. Before I could fully process my actions, I found myself stepping forward, drawn to the scene despite my better judgment. The weight of my disguise pressed down on me, but the cries for help drowned out my fears.

“Hana! Miko!” I called, looking back at them as I approached the rubble. “We need to help!”

After a brief moment of hesitation, Hana and Miko exchanged glances and then followed suit, joining me as we moved closer to the scene. I could feel the heaviness of the debris, and even with my enhanced strength as a Felinor, everything felt more cumbersome than I remembered from my old life. I crouched down beside the men, my heart racing as I began to lift the splintered wood.

The weight was immense, but I pushed through, motivated by the urgency of the situation. Together, we managed to shift the rubble just enough to create a small opening. I could hear voices coming from inside, the sound of a child crying mingling with the anxious shouts of the men.

“Keep going! We’re almost there!” one of them urged, sweat dripping down his brow.

With one last effort, we heaved the last piece of debris off, revealing a small family—a woman and two children—huddled together, fear written on their faces. The woman was visibly shaken but immediately began to crawl out. As she emerged, the men who had been holding the debris rushed to scoop the children up, ensuring they were safe.

“Get them to the healer!” one man shouted, his voice rising above the crowd that had gathered to witness the scene. A cheer erupted from the onlookers, and the family was quickly whisked away, the weight of the situation lifting slightly with their escape.

Miko, Hana, and I stood in the aftermath, our hearts racing. As the crowd began to disperse, exchanging relieved glances and cheers. I breathed a sigh of relief and looked down. My cloak had been covered in dirt and the bottom of my Kimono was ripped underneath. Partially undone by my frantic movement when attempting to help. I flushed and quickly moved to fix it, glad it had held up, mostly.

After the crowd had moved on, one of the men who’d been frantically digging stepped toward us nodding to each of us in turn. “Thank you. I mean it,” he said, a slight tremor in his voice. “All three of you, thank you. I don’t know what would’ve happened if you hadn’t stepped in…”

I adjusted my hood, trying to stay inconspicuous. “Anyone would’ve done it,” I murmured, shifting uncomfortably under his earnest gaze.

The man sighed, glancing at the quiet crowd around us. “Maybe. But you didn’t hesitate. That kind of kindness is rare.”

I had hesitated though; I had even considered running away. I felt ashamed to have someone compliment me with something I did not deserve.

Miko, who had been observing him with a raised brow, spoke up, her tone smooth and respectful. “An astute observation, sir. Such discernment is uncommon.” She cast a polite, knowing smile at him, her eyes flashing with a faint look of superiority.

The man looked momentarily flustered and uncertain on how to take the comment but Hana’s light chuckle smoothed things over. “What she means is—it’s nice of you to say that. We don’t often hear it.”

Recovering, he offered a smile and extended his hand. “I’m Aldric, by the way.”

Hana accepted his handshake with a nod of acknowledgment, introducing herself and then Miko. He turned to me, expectantly. “And you?”

My throat went dry, my mind racing. Nessa couldn’t know I’d snuck out, and I could already picture her look when she saw the state of my dress. I froze, realizing I’d been quiet a beat too long. But I gave him the polite smile I’d been perfecting for weeks. “Aurelia,” I said, managing to keep my voice steady.

Aldric smiled back warmly. “A pleasure, Aurelia.” He gestured toward a firepit where some other villagers were settling in. “Come, sit with us. Least we can do after what you did.”

As we followed him to the fire, he handed each of us a simple wooden bowl filled with steaming stew. As we sat, he glanced between us, curiosity lighting his expression. “So… are you all from one of the other camps?”

I exchanged a glance with Hana and Miko. “Other camps?”

Aldric nodded, gesturing vaguely toward the distant hills. “The summoned and the Felinor who came here—they separated into two camps after things… got complicated.”

Hana raised an eyebrow. “Complicated, you say?”

Aldric sighed. “Tensions, you know. Different ideals, ways of doing things. It wasn’t long before each side started making their own place.” His expression softened as he turned back to me. “If you’ve been traveling long, I’m sure you’ve seen it. It’s a lot for one place to handle.”

I nodded, feigning understanding. Miko and Hana smoothly took over the conversation, offering vague, well-worded replies that implied familiarity with the region but deflected further questions about our backgrounds. Aldric seemed content to let them speak, though he looked at me every so often as if expecting me to jump in.

After a quiet moment, he sighed, his gaze softening. "The family that was trapped… they’re struggling just to get by. The woman’s a resilient one—took in those two children after she lost her own to the summoning. It’s like she became their mother overnight, and she’s done everything to give them a sense of home." His voice dropped slightly, thoughtful. "But, with resources so scarce, every day’s been a battle for her. The eldest one, a boy about ten, does what he can to help her, though. Quite the little fighter."

He paused, and I noticed a hint of anger creeping into his voice. “But you know what really gets to me? The Embassy has been no help at all. Not a single word since we arrived. It’s like they sent us here and then just… forgot about us. We’re out here in the cold, trying to survive, and all we hear are whispers of hope with nothing to back them up.”

Despite his frustration, an optimistic glint sparked in his expression. “But there’s some good news. Word is, an envoy is on the way. Everyone here is hoping it’ll bring the help we’ve needed for so long. Supplies, more people willing to lend a hand, maybe even a healer or two.”

I tilted my head, curious. “You really think they’ll come through?”

Aldric shrugged, but his eyes lit up with determination. “I have to believe that they will. This envoy gives us something to hold onto, something to fight for.”

Got it—let's refine that to reflect this is their first real news from beyond the city itself, not the borders. Here’s the revision:

I tilted my head, still skeptical. "But why so much hope over one envoy?" I asked. "If anything, shouldn’t we be cautious? This could just bring more trouble."

Aldric let out a slow breath, like he'd already wrestled with the same doubts. "I get it," he said, nodding. "But think about it—this is the first real news we’ve had from beyond the city. Until now, it’s been silence. For them to send an envoy means they’re finally acknowledging us."

I frowned, glancing over the quiet, bleak camp. "Still, why now? We have been here for weeks."

Aldric rubbed the back of his neck, a nervous gesture. “I dunno. Maybe they’re finally seeing the truth? We can’t keep hiding like this.” He let out a frustrated huff. “But I can’t help but feel it’s something bigger. Like… like they’re looking for a way to change things.” He met my gaze, his eyes bright with a mix of hope and frustration. “If they’re willing to listen, that could mean something for us.”

A glimmer of hope laced his words, but it only deepened my sadness. These people were in desperate need of help, and no one was stepping up to provide it. Maybe I could consult Nessa or even Rael? But what could I do? I felt lost. I needed someone to take action, even if I wasn't ready to do it myself. Looking up at the sky, I sought guidance and realized who I needed to turn to—the very person I had always meant to reach out to. I needed to find Myra.

 

 

-----------Authors Note -----------

Happy Halloween!

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