The Ties That Bind

Chapter 1

Alben stared at the page of the open book in front of him. Deciphering every word of the book was the hardest, as every word was elvish. Spoken elvish was easier to understand than written, and he had hardly seen it written.

The symbols decorated the page, but he couldn't think of what the words meant. He'd seen them on signs as he wandered through the city, but he hardly went into to the city centre on his own. He'd never had to understand Elvish, so why had Eldon decided to teach him.

His eyes squinted as he focused on the symbols. He traced the symbols with his finger, hoping to pull some understanding out of his head. But there was nothing. He couldn't make out any of the symbols on the paged. He sighed and slammed the book shut, placing it on the desk.

"How's it going?" Eldon asked him. He took off his glasses and placed them on the table.

"Badly, " Alben replied. "Nothing makes sense."

"I'll come over." Eldon picked up his glasses. He walked towards the desk, picking up the book and approached Alben. He began reading the book out loud.

The words finally clicked in Alben's head. He grabbed the book back off Eldon as began to re-read the book, speaking every word out loud. He'd heard these words in passing, during his days at work and on the street. His mother had taught him how to speak Elvish, just not how to read it or even write it.

"Stop-" Eldon's shout was masked by a strong gust of wind that sent several pieces of paper flying across the room. "Careful, I never knew you had it in you. You must take after your mother more than your father."

"Well I'm still an elf, " Alben responded, as he picked up the papers that were scattered across the floor.
"Look, " Elden said. "Take some of the books. Illusion, conjuration, or evocation magic take your pick. Don't tell anyone."

Alben scoured the shelves and flicked through pages of any book he could find. He did the same to several different books before he could find the ones he wanted. He placed them in a pile on Eldon's desk.

He collected three in total, but every book was filled with at least 500+ pages. He thought these would keep him busy and he needed them too. He had a week off and that was the longest he'd had off in a long time.

He began stuffing each book in his satchel bag that he had carried with him. "Careful," Eldon said. "If anyone sees those books are damaged it's my fault. This is a favour. Imagine what everyone would be saying if the only half-elf knew magic. Keep this to yourself. I'm only doing this for your mother, she's helped me a lot when I was younger, and I never forget."

"Long memory, then, " Alben responded.

"Well, you haven't lived a few hundred years yet. Then you'll see the world."

Alben sat at the seat nearest him as Eldon recited his monologue. He'd always ramble on about the days before the humans but Eldon always wanted to tell him all the time. Alben knew he wouldn't live as long as everyone in the city, but he'd try and do everything he could. Even if that meant visiting the human stronghold for once.

As Eldon got towards the end of his monologue, Albens head hit the desk. He quickly jolted himself back up as the noise he made startled him. Eldon stared at him, "am I boring you?"

"Kinda, " Alben replied. "Did anything else happen? You keep repeating the same details over and over again. This feels like the 50th time I've heard the story."

"But this is the first time you've managed to learn magic. I guess I can add something new to the story." Eldon paused for a moment and he stood on the table. Alben scooted his chair further away from the table. Eldon leaned towards him.

"Why do you think humans haven't seen us for years?" Eldon asked him and he didn't wait for Alben to respond.

"Magic. That's the only reason. And they'll never find us as long as the barrier holds. And that's why I teach you magic, you might be skilled enough to do that one day."

"But what if I don't want to, what if I want to do something else? I can't exactly spend the rest of my life, that's shorter than everyone else here, can I? Think I might go mad. All I see is forests, walls, houses and animals. And written elvish." Alben didn't know what just came out of his mouth. Hed never shouted at Eldon before, not even in another one of his lessons.

But maybe he was fed up if everything. Even when he was helping them protect the border, the other always looked at him differently. He definitely looked different from the elves, he didn't have the same features as they did. He was half-elf he just had more human features than they did. And they hated him for it, maybe that's why he wanted to live somewhere else. Somewhere away from everyone, or somewhere where he could feel like himself and not be stared at all the time.

He knew Eldon felt the same way the others did. Even though, he wasn't an elf he was a gnome, but hed lived with the elves longer than Alben had, all the gnomes had.

The conquest that the humans started still hadn't finished. Even after all these years they still wanted the city. Alben admired them for that they never gave up, but the elves didn't either. They kept fighting against each other, gaining nothing and losing their numbers.

"Listen here, " Eldon raised his voice. "Your mother wanted me to teach you some magic and that's all I'm here to do. You don't want to listen, that's fine. Maybe you like being different. But you've got to figure what you want out for yourself. You picked up the books, then go read them. You've got time free, I hear. Try and learn something, just for once. Might do you the world of good."

Alben grabbed his bags and ran out of Eldon's study. He didn't say goodbye or see you next week like usual, he just kept his mouth shut. He quickly ran down the wooden stairs and opened the door.

He didn't utter a word to anyone else on the way out, he was as quiet as he could be.

As he wandered through the forest back to his home, from the corner of his eye he saw an elven figure in the shadows. Must be another patrol, Alben thought. There must be another attack coming soon.

He quickened his pace, weaving in and out of the trees. If an attack were due, he would be better to find some form of cover. And the trees were the only cover the forest provided.

He caught the figure again, but this time she stood in front of him. Two swords were attached to a belt across her waist and she stared at him. "Look" she said, moving her hands away from the swords. "I have a message for you."

She reached into one of her pockets. "Stop," Alben said. "Who are you? What do you want?"

"Let me give you this message and I'll be on my way." She passed him the folded piece of paper and placed it in the open palm of his hand. "Something is coming and the Ivellios' want to help. Will you join us?"

"Who is this for?" Alben asked, as he placed the note in one of his pockets.

"For you. What is your answer? I need it now."

"I don't have one."

"I'll give you two days. I need an answer by them."

She disappeared off into the shadows. Alben ran after her but she quickly darted out of his sight. He kept looking for where she could have gone but there were no clues. No tracks, nothing.

Alben lifted the folded piece of paper out of his pocket and began to read it. Luckily, unlike those books it wasn't in Elvish. It was written in something that he could understand. A quick glance was all he needed to make a note of what he needed to do, and this couldn't wait.

He dashed to the edge and forest and approached one of the elves on guard. He tapped the guard on his shoulder just to get his attention and he recognised the face straight away, Laisren.

"Something is coming," Alben said. He placed the folded piece of paper in front of Laisren's face.

Laisren grabbed the paper. "What are you going on out half-breed? Maybe you need more time off." He ripped the piece of paper up in front of Alben's face. "I hope no one finds out about this, for your sake. Get out!"

Alben continued his journey home. As he did so, his thoughts began to circle around in his mind. What was the girl going on about? Why him? The questions continued to plague him until he got home.