A Drop of Moonlight

Chapter 1: Runaway

Denise was only 15 when she had run away from home. Her reasons for running were not quite the same as those other runaways. She left simply because she can.

She does not have a sob story nor she had a problem at home. She and her mother and brother lived quite well. They get along and they depend on each other throughout her first 13 years of life.

Her home was a remote territory of the kingdom of Ranon, the fief of the baron Lupus. Life was tough there with weak agriculture to make a living, constant willy weather, strong societal judgment and ect. She had lived all kinds of disadvantages that she was quite confident to live through most of the worst of others.

To prove her point, she left home after leaving a letter. She was sure it would be her brother who would first read it before letting their mother read it. He was that considerate and their mother will more or less send her blessing for a safe journey when she did read her letter. Her brother knew better than to stop her and will do his best to make things easier for all of them.

Her initial plan was to go to the capital to see what it has to offer. She heard of its prosperity and was curious about how different things are between the countryside and the city. Furthermore she wanted to find her cousin to beat some sense to them after leaving them in such a mess.

Plans were great and all, however Denise knew that she was never a lucky child. On the seventh day of her journey she was captured by slavers. She admits that how she was captured was her own fault, but she will definitely let these slavers know pain when she gets the opportunity.

In the middle of nowhere, Denise could hear the slavers having their merry gathering as they rudely dumped their newest captured. With defiant eyes, Denise made sure to memorize the patterns of the slavers’ guard switch and also observe the best possible way to get even with them. And after a couple of days, she was confident she can take them on at least three days from now. After all, she also needs to make appropriate and ample preparations for escape.

“Are you okay?” Denise asked the new addition as the slaver joined the others in their gathering.

The new addition did not answer and kept their silence. She doesn't know if they are a boy or a girl given that they are covered by a cloak from head to toe. She hopes they will talk so that she can at least know how to address them later on. After all, it would be rude to keep on referring to them as ‘hey’ or ‘you’, her brother would not let her continue referring to people as such.

Trying a couple of times, the cloaked captured did not utter a single word. Respecting their silence, she retreated to the side and continue on observing their capturer as well as the terrain,

Given that it has been days she had been captured, not to mention the time she was knocked out, Denise was not really sure where they are now. However, she knew that she was getting away from Ranon with how lush and tall the trees are in their surroundings. With its climate and overall geography, Denise never heard of a forest like this in Ranon.

“At this rate, I will not be able to get into the capital at this rate.” Denise murmured as she idly made herself comfortable in her corner. “Stupid Denise, next time don’t sleep in suspicious places. They are suspicious for a reason and trees are better beds than that sorry piece of furniture.”

Just as she was about to judge that it would be better for her to sleep in for the night, her roomate(was that even appropriate to call them?) started shuddering all of a sudden. Denise would have not noticed if she was not quite sensitive with people’s emotions. She could sense they are in pain.

Instinctively, she went to their side and tried to communicate with them to know more about their condition. However, they are far in their pain to notice her urgings. To at least examine them, she took off the cloak to see their state.

Upon removing the cloak covering their head, Denise came to see their pale white skin. Olive eyes were full of pain and vigilance. And what made her stare at them for a while was the pointed ears of the other.

“...an elf?” Denise uttered in disbelief.

Elves are a rare race in the kingdom of Ranon. They are prideful creatures who take pride in being gentle darlings of nature. Never to be bound and beloved by the world in itself.

There are only 10 of them in the whole country who are not even staying for a long term. They prefer to be near the mother tree who bore them, thus the reason none of them really stays long on a country. Masters of medicine and natural magic, they help boost the agriculture yield of the countries from time to time.

They are considered a precious race who are greatly respected in Ranon. The mere thought of them being slaves is blasphemous and is punishable with capital offense to their country. Commoners and alike worship them as gods for gracing them with plentiful harvest, while the Nobility treat them as great and reliable partners.

One can say, elves are sacred and holy to all citizens or Ranon. The true religion and god race that they recognize and cherish preciously. Gods and religion of other lands holds no same dignity as these noble creatures for them.

Rage filled Denise’s being as she saw that the young elf before her was captured like some common goods. Furthermore, it was clear that the slavers had done something to make the elf suffer. She cannot tolerate them for tainting an elf. For doing something so vile and immoral, she swears to not let these men go.

Just as her heart was going to impulsively suggest to act tonight, the elf’s labored panting snapped her out of her induced rage. Her mind cooled down and began thinking of how to make the elf better. In her worry, she thought of an idea that will definitely make her brother rage and wish to kill her when he gets to know about it.

“Hey, can you understand me?” Denise tried once again to communicate with the other now that she can see their face. “I am captured as you are. Will you let me help you? I swear by the moon, I wish you no harm.”

“You humans are creatures of lies.” The elf said with a distorted face. “Making promises you never fulfill and harming us for your greed, what makes you so different that I will allow you to help me?”

“By the name of Rhianon.” Denise uttered with solemnity. “Humans may forget this name, but I’m sure elves will never.”

“How?” The elf was stunned at her words.

“It doesn’t matter how I knew.” Denise said as she reached out her hand and placed it just above the elf’s heart. “All you have to know is that I’m swearing on Rhianon’s name and I intend to keep you safe and escape from those slavers. Trust me on this one, should I lie or betray, the moon would never forgive and all monsters will hunt me for the rest of my life.”

The elf stopped from letting Denise help them as they heard her promise. All other vows might be betrayed and trampled, a promise with Rhianon is eternal and binding. Thus they will trust and cooperate with a human whose species was the reason for their plight.

And perhaps it was the glint in those golden eyes that let them once again believe in the old aged promises between races.