Among The Children, [p] Elam

[*Anala]

It was, yet, another busy day at the orphanage.
Anala Aradelic had grown up. At the age of 20, she was on her own now, making a living for herself in the world. She moved from the sleepy village she use to live in and up towards Owlin. So many things have changed in the last year, and so many flowers began to bloom. She found the streets ridden with children, abused and forgotten. This struck home in the heart, as her own brother died at the age of 16. So within those months, she fought to build an orphanage for the city. And it, along with many things, were granted to her.

Of course, instead of being in Owlin, she moved the thing east and into Fazzen Village. There, things kept her busy and working. There were many things to teach the children about. She taught them basic schooling skills and how to fold a bed. She taught them how to cook and set up a dinner table, and to say their prayers. Taroism ran strong in her blood after she separated from her parents. Something seemed to call to her about it, something so... Bold. Maybe it was because of the tales that rode in her mind. It also might have been because of the man she met so long ago, in the streets of Sirius City, which had also changed over the years.

Stories were a must at bedtime, and she could weave them well.

~~~

Several children ran around her feet as Anala put on a hat and grabbed the basket. It was Market day, and with several new boarders she needed more food desperately. As the wooden door swung open with a squeak, she called over her shoulder.
"Now, be good and don't destroy the lanterns like yesterday. We don't need the structure to burn down."
Several brown and yellow heads bobbed up and down as the lady giggled and shut the door behind her.
The sun was up high and the birds sang in their trees. The walk to the market was pretty and quiet, but that wasn't what she was looking for. She longed for an adventure, something that involved fighting and trips and friends. Sure, the orphanage was hectic but it was more of a lady's thing. She wanted something of a story. She wanted life-threatening dragons chasing after her while she ran away with an egg of theirs. It was wrong, though, in the name of Taro and all things Holy, to think that way. The children needed her.

The market was slow, with people lumbering about easily. She wasn't sure what to buy, so she sat down at the local cafe and looked out. Maybe... Somebody could take her away. Taker her away into space.

[Elam]

It had been a year since he had been here, a long year of hardship. Battles with orc's and goblins, escaping the Oblivion palace, being hunted by White Orcs and awaking as a monster, all where parts of his past now. The little farm boy which had been raised up by the innkeeper of Fazzen's local Inn after his parents had been murdered and sister kidnapped. He smiled as he looked at the houses that many of the people he knew lived. He stood out side the village for a moment, remembering the times he had here before he had left off and traveled Arca in search of his sister.

One step, two steps and three steps. Slowly he began walking. Passing people that he had know since a child, but they did not recognize, for in the year that had passed, he had changed so much. He had become stronger, he had become taller, his face had changed a little, giving him a more serious face, but yet kind. He had also become wiser after traveling over Arca, but that was not something others could see.

He walked into the market. As it had always been, things when slow, just like he liked it. Nothing had change, the old village had stayed the same the time he had been gone. He took a deep breath to fill his lounges with the sweet smell of apple's and grapes. He headed towards the Inn that he had lived in before he had begun his long journey.

[*Anala]

It was an amazing sight. Almost like somebody had answered her longings.

Elam had walked by.

He'd seemed to have gotten more battle-weary than before. But she was sure it was him. She wondered if he would have recognized her, by her lightened brown hair that now hung at her hips, and the soft lips that gave her the beauty to ensure a husband-to-come. With a large smile, she gathered her red skirts and ran over to the man, calling his name.
"Elam!"

Several people turned their heads as if a memory was stirred. Was that truly the boy that had roamed their streets as a little boy? It was in moments that she caught to him, her legs getting stronger by the 8 story house she lived in. That was why it was crucial she taught everyone to fold their beds and to eat their dinner correctly. Rushing in, she gave him an open hug as if they were best of friends. Laughter sprung out of her throat as she smiled even more.
"I haven't seen you in forever! Where have you been?"

[Elam]

"Elam!"
Elam heard a familiar voice call for him from behind. He halted for a second and turned around. Surprised, Anala jumped at him, hugging him and laughing.
"I haven't seen you in forever! Where have you been?"
He laughed himself. He had not recognized the girl he had met a year ago.
"I guess I've been on the road for a wile." He said with a smile. He pulled back a little to look at her. "I see you've been doing well since the last time we met." He looked up, only to see many of the familiar face gaze upon him. They recognized him now. The "little orphan that had been raised by the innkeeper" had returned.

[*Anala]

"You've grown! You've changed so much." She laughed again.
"I'm doing well. Come, come. It's almost dinner time and you might as well get washed up from your travels. I've just got to pick up some vegetables and bread for dinner."

With that, she walked into the market place, picking up huge amounts of fruits and vegetables along the way. Her basket weighed at least 15 pounds from just the produces. As she struggled along to fetch whatever meat they had today, she looked up to Elam.
"So, how have you been doing? And what have you been up to now?"

[Elam]

"You've grown! You've changed so much." She responded.
He only laughed.
"I'm doing well. Come, come. It's almost dinner time and you might as well get washed up from your travels. I've just got to pick up some vegetables and bread for dinner." She added.
Elam looked at her again and smiled. "If you are fine with that, then I might as well come."

He followed her into the market place. He watched as she grabbed fruits and vegetables. He was amazed at how much stronger she was from last time, but then again, it was only a basket of items from the market, not a full battle gear. He laughed to himself as he visualized it in his mind. Suddenly she looked up at him.
"So, how have you been doing? And what have you been up to now?"

He smiled once more and looked at the sunny sky.
"I've mostly been traveling, non stop. Had to run away from a bunch of crazy assassins and get out of Oblivion palace. Probably the worst thing that happened was when I was locked inside the Temple of Light for some time." He let out a short sigh as he finished, the temple of Light was not a place he wanted to go to any time soon again.

[*Anala]

She simply nodded, not daring to get into his personal troubles. He already had his Death Angel side to take care of, plus it was rumored that he was a descendant of a god, so it was better to let things hanging. She threw in three turkeys and a dozen or so fish before turning around.
"Life's been hard on you, it seems. We'll do every thing we can to get you out of your situation. You don't need more things burdening you. Come on."

She nearly tripped as they walked out of the marketplace, but she found her balance again. The road back to the orphanage was going to be a short one, but she was slowed with the basket wrapped in her arms. Somebody shoved into her, and she nearly tripped again. As she straightened herself once more, she gave Elam a sheepish smile.
"Sorry about that. Not many people like them running around in the yard, so I get shoved a lot. I must show you around the place we live in now. What brings you here, by the way?"

[Elam]

"Life's been hard on you, it seems. We'll do every thing we can to get you out of your situation. You don't need more things burdening you. Come on." She said to him. Elam noticed he throwing about three turkeys and a bunch of fishes into her basket right before she had turned to him.
"Your happy as ever. Thank You Anala" He said as smiled to her.

As they walked towards the orphanage, Anala nearly fell, TWICE. First when they where walking out of the marketplace and showed by someone the second time. She turned to him with a smile. He could only let out a little giggle.
"Sorry about that. Not many people like them running around in the yard, so I get shoved a lot. I must show you around the place we live in now. What brings you here, by the way?"

Elam walked beside her for a wile as they walked towards the orphanage. "I thought I'd check up on this place, it's been a wile..." He dozed of for a wile, before he added. "I was born in this village."

[*Anala]

"I was born in this village."
She nearly stopped walking. Born in this village? Where Taro resided? She laughed a bit before stalking down the street further.
"Your ancestor is buried here, you're born here, so many warriors of war reside here. It all fits together!" She continued to laugh as they dawned upon the orphanage.

The building itself was a bit run down, and it looked a bit rickety, but it was well kept and it was home. A couple of faces appeared at the window before disappearing to open the door. A young elf girl and a boy with cat ears and a tail stood in the doorway.
"Anala! Anala!"
"Yes, yes, do go in children," she cooed. "I'll have dinner ready in a second." She turned back to Elam.
"Don't mind the children. There are 30 something of them and they're quite friendly. Ask them where you can bathe."
With that, she disappeared through the door. The elf girl continued to stay there.
"I'll take your coat, sir. Please come in."

[Elam]

They arrived at the orphanage. The building wasn't in the best of shape, but it did the part, which was all that mattered. Elam noticed two children in the doorway of the house, calling to Anala. She talked to them for a wile, obviously telling them to get back inside the house. She then turned back to him. "Don't mind the children. There are 30 something of them and they're quite friendly. Ask them where you can bathe." Elam laughed as he remembered the first time they met. She had also told him to take a bath that time. 'Some things stay the same.' He thought with a smile.

Anala had disappeared through the door and now one of the two children stood in front of him, an elven girl. "I'll take your coat, sir. Please come in." She said to him. He couldn't help but smile. He handed her his long and old coat, that he had been using for more than a year now. He patted her head as she ran into the house a head of him. Before he could ask, she turned around.
"The bath is on the second floor." With that, she ran inside unstopped.

He laughed to himself again. 'Second floor, just like last time.' He thought to himself as he walked into the house and closed the door.

The house was well maintained. It was clean (Clean counting that you have 30 or so kids in the house). He walked to the second floor and found the bathroom. It wasn't small, that was for sure. He put away his sword on the counter and closed the bathroom door.

[*Anala]

Several children started running around her feet, asking what to do.
"Aliva! Put his coat by the fire-side. Joshua and Nathal, start rallying the kids to set up and extra place by the dinner table. Kat, Lina, Fresc, and Wes, you all are on kitchen duty. And Retcher!" The cat-boy looked up from his book.
"Go make sure Mr. Elamente has soap, something to wash his hair with, and a towel. Now hurry, for we have a dinner to put on the table." They all bobbed their heads as they rushed off to their tasks.

She folded on another apron as she was handed the meat by Lina. The siblings, Kat and Wes, busied themselves with cutting the vegetables.
"We're going to make a salad with whatever cheese we have left and the fruit there. Fresc, please start pan-frying the vegetables. Lina, get a pot of water above the fire. We're steaming the fish."
In moments, the kitchen was ready. The salad was halfway done and the turkeys were roasting side-by-side just below a pot of water.

Retcher ran up the stairs, nearly tripping on the top step. As he ran to the bathroom, he spotted the shining sword on the counter. It called for him. The boy stood their, marveling at the weapon. It was the first time he'd seen a warrior sword in all his life, and he wanted to touch it. And if Anala ever found out, she would have been disappointed. He did touch it, cutting himself in the process. The blood dripped onto the blade, and he backed away as if it were a snake. Shaking his head, Retcher knocked on the door.
"Mr. Elamente! Please, we forgot to give you soap. May I come in?"

Anala rushed around the kitchen, telling the children to go outside and set up the table. The food was nearly done.

[Elam]

"Mr. Elamente! Please, we forgot to give you soap. May I come in?"
Elam heard a boys voice from out side the bathroom. He had removed his armor, tunic, boots and shirt, but was still in his trousers. He opened the door and looked down. It was the Cat boy from earlier. He crouched down and put out his hand to greet him.
"I guess it is common curtsy to give your name to those who take you in, I am Elam."

The boy, shyly took his hand and said. "Retcher." Elam smiled. "Nice to meet you Retcher." As Retcher handed him the soap, Elam noticed the cut on his finger. He quickly looked at his sword and noticed a blood drop on it. Elam couldn't blame the boy for being curious, he had been the same as him, he was the same. But, he didn't think Anala would be on the same page of the book as he was.

"Let me see that cut."
Ratcher seemed startled, like he didn't expect him to notice it. It's not like Elam looked like the most friendly guy ever. Dark red tattoo on his right hand, from the wrist up to the shoulder and somewhat on his chest, back and neck, his red eyes. He didn't exactly look friendly. "It's alright, I am just going to look at it." Elam added. Reluctantly, he raised his right hand. Elam took his hand and grabbed the place where Retcher had cut himself. "Och" The boy cried as Elam held around his cut. In a little wile, Elam let go and the wound was gone. "There we go!" He said, happy about his achievement. Elam looked at Ratcher and said in a low voice.
"This will be our little secret Retchet." With that, Elam smiled, stood up and went back into the bathroom.

[*Anala]

Retcher stared into the warrior with curious eyes before giving a huge grin and shouting through the closed door.
"Thanks, Elam, sir. Anala would have been horrified." And he laughed like a child on his birthday before running off. "Enjoy your bath." And he disappeared around the corner, with a swish of his tail, heading into his room.

Anala toiled over the flour, turning it at least 7 times before checking the fire's temperature. Bread was her worst subject and it usually flattened before it could be served. Not this time! But her attempts proved worthless, as she slammed the heap of dough onto a baking paddle and put it in the stone oven. It collapsed as soon as it came within a foot of the fire. With a cry of dismay, she threw her hands up. It was impossible. Yet, dinner was still waiting to be prepared. She went to check on how the fish was doing. It looked cooked and smelled great, especially with the green onions and the flaky brown skin. Now all she needed to do was create a stuffing to go on the side. In another 15 minutes, she estimated, dinner would be prepared.

The evening bell tolled. It was 7 o' clock.

[Elam]

Elam smiled as Ratcher ran away from the door, calling to him. "Enjoy your bath."

His heart began beating slower as he lay against the door. 'Ten years' He thought to himself as he remembered the unpleasant memory of his parents death and his sisters kidnap. He raised his right hand and looked on mark which was a part of the family curse. 'If I'd had my current strength back then, I....' His thought's suddenly when quiet. He smiled to himself as he closed his eyes and formed a fist with his right hand. 'I'd better start bathing...'

It didn't take him long to clean himself. Just a few scrubs here and there and he was done. He opened his backpack and took out a clean set of cloths, since he thought it would be rude for the guest to be dressed in dirty battle gear. He grabbed his better shirt (white), trousers (brown) and boots (brown). He put his amulet around his neck and fixed his hair, putting it in a ponytail as he did normally (because having long hair in battle can be troublesome if you don't have anything to prevent your hair from blocking your sight). He looked into the mirror. He had once been given these cloths, only because the one who gave them to him said that they made him look like a noble.

Just as he finished dressing himself, the evening bell rang. He grabbed his things and put them on the counter where he had leaved his sword. He covered the swords blade with his old tunic and put everything else back into his backpack. He walked down the stairs and stopped in the kitchen doorway. "Need help with something?"

[*Anala]

Anala looked up from the stuffing, her bangs in her face. Elam stood in the doorway, looking more than handsome. She shook her head.
"We've gotten it. Go outside and-- WOAH!" She slipped on something, sprawling backwards. The knife went flying, almost hitting one of the children. Luckily, Lina froze and the blade struck the wall. As Anala got up, she nearly fainted.
"Okay. All children out of the kitchen."
With that, they shuffled out of the warm room, dragging Elam along. Anala pulled back her hair and continued to work.

It took only a few minuets, since almost all the food was out. Anala took off the apron and swept it over the nail, before taking out the fish and the stuffing. Aliva rang the bell, and the pounding of feet echoed through the building. Each took their seat at the table, chattering to one another. Anala motioned for Elam to take the head, and she took the seat next to the right. With a clap of her hands, the buzz was silenced to whispers.
"Okay, children. This," she motioned to Elam. "Is Elamente. He's a friend of mine, the one who saved me when I was attacked in Siruis City? I imagine you remember that story." The heads bobbed up and down in agreeance.
"Elam, would you mind if you lead us in a prayer?" She hid a small smirk. The grand-son of Taro must have known what to do.