Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » Elves of All Kinds (1x1)

Belle took a breath, and nodded. She took his hand in hers, and gently kissed the elf's cheek. "I'm aware. Thank you, brother. I'll heed your warning." She offered a smile, and backed up to Arthur once more. She nodded to him. "Maybe I should sit up with you... So that hopefully you won't get shot while we ride?" she suggested softly.

Arthur glanced at her and nodded. "That...sounds like the preferable course of action." He chuckled slightly and climbed back up onto the front seat, holding out his hand to help her up. By the time they were seated on the carriage again, the elves had vanished. "...wow. That's...rather intimidating." Arthur blinked, but then gave the reigns a flick and continued on in the direction they'd been pointed. "I guess there's no peace between the species yet."

Belle sat beside him, adjusting herself a bit as she gazed around. "Mm..." She studied the trees. "My father was the best leaf-walker in my village. I wish I could move like him, but anything much more than walking isn't good for me." She sighed softly, before looking over at Arthur. "I beg your pardon, but...why are you doing this?"

Arthur glanced at her. "Leaf-walker? What is that?" He was quiet for a few long moments as she asked why he was doing this. He was just about to open his mouth and speak when something whizzed right past him and embedded itself into the space between them on the seat. An arrow. A warning shot. "Holyyy..." He stared at it and pulled the horses to a stop. "Aren't you supposed to be the deterrent for those kinds of actions??" Had they already gotten into the territory of the next village? It had been pretty soon, he would be surprised if the villages were that close.

"A leaf-walker is someone like those scouts, elves who move in the trees—" Belle stopped when the arrow was shot. She quickly stood and looked around. "Hello? Show yourselves! We mean you no harm; we're only passing through." She tensed, hoping her words would ease whoever was watching them.

Arthur reached up to take her arm and gently pull her back down. "Belle, be careful you're going to fal--" He was interrupted by something whipping through the air and covering him, wrapping up around him quickly. A net! A net with weight corners, which dragged him right off the carriage and onto the hard ground. "Oof!!" Arthur struggled a bit in the net. "What is the meaning of this?!" A few elves, two men and one women, dropped down from the trees. Their attire was different than the other men they'd seen.
"It's a good thing we were coming by this way when we did. Human filth. You! Sister! What are you doing up there with this creature?" the woman said, looking up to Belle.

Belle reached out. "Arthur!" No time for titles. But the woman asked her a question, and she hopped off the carriage to get to Arthur. "Please, don't hurt him! He's just traveling with me; he's harmless." She went to crouch by Arthur and help get the net off, if the elves would even let her near him.

The elves didn't let her get anywhere near. They stepped between the two of them, and the woman frowned. "He's a human! Disgusting filth, and certainly not 'harmless'. I want the truth! What are you doing here with this human?!" She pulled out a spear and pointed it at Belle, waiting for answers. "I do not want to harm you, sister, but if it means keeping out people safe from the creature then I will sadly accept that duty!"

Belle's eyes went wide and she backed up. Her heart was pounding, and while she struggled to formulate words in her panic, she began to hyperventilate. Please not here, not now! she thought desperately as she clutched her chest, leaning against the carriage as she struggled to breathe. She was having something similar to an asthma attack, but she was trying her hardest not to make a big deal out of barely being able to breathe, poor thing.

Arthur saw her, and he struggled against the bonds. "Let me out! She can't breathe, damnit! Belle!" He wiggled his way in the net to his boot and pulled out a knife, slicing through the net. He untangled himself and stumbled over, feeling a sharp pain in his arm. But he didn't stop. He went right over to Belle, shielding her from the others. "Belle, Belle. Look at me. Look at me. It's okay..." he said gently, looking right into her eyes. "It's okay. Just take deep breaths, it's alright. We're going to find your parents. It'll be okay." Ironically, this was coming from the guy who had an arrow in his arm now.

Belle gasped, but little air got into her lungs. Thankfully she didn't notice the arrow yet, and after about half a minute she was able to take some air. She was pale and shaky, but she could breathe again. She shut her eyes tightly for a moment, before finally she saw the arrow in his arm. She gasped and put a hand over her mouth. "M-Master Arthur, your arm!" She looked over his shoulder towards the elves. "Help him! You can't let him bleed to death!" Her voice was weak but her face blazed with concern and slight irritation towards the elves. Had they no mercy towards him?!

Arthur ignored the pain in his arm and make sure he had her calmed down to breathe. Then she spoke of his arm. He glanced at it. "...oh. Well, will you look at that? No wonder it's been hurting." The elves had been standing, watching with confusion and curiosity. Finally, the two men came over to them. The arrow was yanked from Arthur's arm (the poor man gave a cry of surprise and pain), and then they ripped off his sleeve to use it as a makeshift bandage. Then they were nudged to the carriage. "Get in." said the woman. "You're coming with us." Arthur would make sure Belle got into the carriage, then he climbed in too, being careful of his injured arm. "...Well. All kinds of natural elves, I suppose." He glanced at her. "...are you alright? Can you breathe now?"

"Y-Yes, I'm fine." Belle bit her lip, watching his arm. "Are you alright?" she asked worriedly, hesitantly reaching out to set a hand on his arm. No, no... This was all her fault! If she had just kept quiet about where she was from... Perhaps Arthur wouldn't have gone on this journey, and he wouldn't have gotten hurt...

Arthur glanced at his arm, flinching as she touched it. "Ah, yes it's just a minor injury, I'm fine. It's honestly rather invigorating. I've never been shot with an arrow before. It'll be something to talk about to Mary and the others back home, that's for certain." He glanced at her. "Belle...I want you to be careful. These people aren't playing around. If there's a sign of danger to your health, I want you to run. I want you to get away and hide somewhere until you can make it somewhere safe."

Belle still looked worried. But at his warning, she smiled weakly. "I beg your pardon, sir, but if I'm in danger I'm afraid running would just make it worse. Besides... Perhaps I could mention my father. If he's still in any sort of power, they will take us to him, and...and I can explain everything. We'll be safe, then. I'll convince him to pardon you."

Arthur hesitated, but then nodded slightly. "Well...alright." He still didn't want her to get hurt by all this. The carriage stopped, and he glanced out the window. "Well, looks like we're in a new village." The door opened and the woman yanked him out, then gestured for Belle to follow. She held her spear pointed at Arthur, moving him along carefully. One of the men from earlier was leading them, the other had left. Elves were around, staring at the human in their midst and the elf girl that was with him.

Belle walked along quickly and quietly, staying as close as she could behind Arthur. She gazed back at the elves, studying them. She suddenly felt very out of place, with her human clothes and hairstyle. She nervously pulled her braid over her shoulder and looked down at her feet as she walked.

They stopped at the entrance to one of the houses. Arthur stared around, fascinated by all of this. Suddenly the woman pulled him aside, and nudged Belle in. "Go." She pushed Belle carefully into the room, and the other elf man walked with her the rest of the way in. It was certainly the house for the head of the village. And there, in the chair that was much like a throne in some ways, was...
Saelhil.
"Chieftain, we found this elf girl with a human. She called him 'master', chieftain, and tried to protect him. We have helped others like her, shall we do the same? They were in our land, wandering in a carriage."

Saelhil glanced up from looking over some maps in his lap, and blinked. "...yes, of course." He set aside the maps and stood. He was as regal as ever, golden hair long and pulled back neatly, like a hunter's. "Welcome, child. No need to be frightened. Come, let me look at you." He smiled gently and extended a hand towards her... It seemed he hadn't recognized her yet.

Belle's breath hitched in her throat. It... It couldn't possibly be... She walked forward slowly, studying him. It couldn't be anyone else! "F-Father, it's me, Belle. Don't you recognize me?" she suddenly blurted out, trembling slightly.

Saelhil blinked once, twice. He quickly came forward to examine her. "You, my Belle? Belle was taken long ago. She's either dead or off in some foreign land. Do not torment me." He frowned slightly, but studied her eyes for a moment. "...though, you do resemble her quite a bit..." Had he no faith that his daughter would return? The chieftain cleared his throat and looked at one of the scouts. "Send for Raeliel. Bring her to me."

The scout gave a bow and left quickly. Meanwhile, there was some noise outside. Belle probably wouldn't notice, though. She had just met her father! Soon Raeliel came into the house. "What is it, Saelhil? I was in the middle of--" She paused and looked at the girl. "Who is this? I saw the human outside, did we catch another one? They've been getting bolder coming into our territory, Saelhil. We should make an example."