Chapter Text
The calm fall air was filled with small bouts of laughter. Children ran around in the mud from the rain the night before. The sliding of metal on metal could be heard from the small shops around as workers sharpened their tools. The crackling of fire from nearby homes could faintly be heard through their open windows. The smell of fresh herbs cooking in a stew wafted through the air. Exie wandered through the flowers in her front garden as her mother sat close by, watching her little girl. Her father wasn't too far down the road, selling some of her mother's handmade quilts.
The world was calm and quiet. Then it wasn't. In the blink of an eye. Women and children were screaming, big men on horses swung around with swords, and Blood was everywhere. Exie saw the heads of her neighbors rolling in pools of blood near their homes. A boy the same age as Exie, sat atop one of the horses, he looked as scared as Exie felt. She feared she would be next. She ran, and her mother's screams could be heard, she wasn't dead though, she just kept screaming. One of the men who ran on foot had her. Exie couldn't tell what he was doing to her mother. But when he was done, he moaned loud before slitting her mother's throat. She never did see her father in all of this. But she assumed the worst for him.
Exie ran. She ran as far as she could, till the noise stopped. One man saw her take off. He sprinted after her. He was much faster than her, he was on top of her in seconds. The man dropped his sword in the grass next to her, he had her laying face down in the grass. She struggled against him, trying to get up. The man had his hand up her dress, reaching around for her, she wiggled so much that he couldn't grab what he wanted. He managed to grab her undergarment and ripped it in two. He lifted off of her for a moment to undo his pants, unfortunately for him, that was just enough time for Exie to grab the sword that lay next to her head, she swung it as hard as her little body could manage, right into the man's throat. He started gushing blood everywhere, all over her face and dress. Exie tried to let out a scream but couldn't find her voice.
Exie knew she had to run, she sat there for a moment as this man's body fell backward. She pushed his legs off of him and took off as fast and far as she could. The sound of a horn set off loud from within the village. The horses and men took off back toward their home. Exie didn't dare to look back. She kept running and running till she met the edge of the woods. She was missing a shoe, the thought of running through the forest without a shoe didn't sound inviting, but she knew she had to carry on. Just as she was going to enter the forest, a small creature, the same height as her, came out from behind a tree.
"This way." It urged in a hushed yell.
Exie didn't hesitate to follow the creature. She was next to the small creature, his eyes were large, the size of oranges. His skin was pale green and he had long, pointed ears. His large, boney fingers softly gripped her small, fragile hand as he pulled them deeper into the forest. He felt kind, and loving, she felt safe with this small goblin. He rushed them further and further away from the edge of the forest. After a few minutes of running, Exie's eyes fell upon a huge tree in what she figured was the center of the forest. The tree was littered with small homes and shops, winding up its massive trunk. The air around her was warm and calming, it smelt of chamomile, roses, coffee, and various teas. Soon after her arrival, a few familiar faces shone through the thick brush of the forest. Some of her fellow townspeople had emerged from the forest line, each with a small goblin leading their way.
Only 7 people made it out alive from the village, including herself. Her parents were not a part of the group of survivors. Exie felt broken, she was no more than 10 years old. Some of the people from her town helped her through her rough times, and fey from the also took to her. The goblin who led her to the tree, Fenly, became her closest friend. Though small, his heart was big and full of love and care for the young Exie.
10 years had passed by Exie, the townspeople's numbers grew, and they mixed and mingled with the fey. Little half-elves and half-satyrs ran around the tree. Life was flourishing thanks to the fey. Fenly had stuck by Exie's side through the years, they shared stories, shared meals, and even shared a home. Of course, Fenly didn't take up much space being so small, that living with him was no trouble at all. He was truly her best friend.
"I don't think it's a good idea, Exie ." Fenly stomped around their shared garden.
"It's been years and no attack, I need answers, Fenly. I need to know what happened to the kingdom." Exie paced back and forth through the gate that sat in their garden.
Fenly was tending to their cabbages while trying to talk reason into the dissolved Exie. "Going on your own is a terrible idea, and you know none of the humans here can fight, would you ask the fey to help with such a big task?"
"No...I couldn't ask that of you. Not after what you did for us." Exie paced even more, rubbing her chin in thought.
"Leaving the tree could compromise our location, Exie, you know this. If you leave, you could lead them back to us." Fenly warned.
"I know, but-" Exie was cut off by a cabbage hurling towards her head. She caught the cabbage, inches from her nose. "Fenly, that was rude!" She scolded her goblin friend.
"Thinking of leaving is rude." Fenly huffed.
"I...Fenly...I can't just sit here. I'll stick to the plan I told you about. I'll stay low, keep my face hidden. I'll camp far from home before returning to make sure I'm not being followed. I promise I'll do everything you even advised me to do. I'll play it safe!" Exie pleaded.
Fenly sighed, his large forehead wrinkled in thought. He knew what this meant for Exie. She wanted to kill the king. It was such a demanding task though. No one just kills a king and lives to tell the tale! Especially not alone. Exie had been training to be an assassin. He knew she could care for herself. He knew what she was capable of. But he was scared for her. Scared she might get too reckless and blinded by hatred. Or slip up somehow. Every bad possible ending was playing in Fenly's mind.
"This could go wrong, Exie. You get too hot-headed sometimes, what if you let your emotions guide you too much? What if you don't come home?" Fenly grumbled the last part. He was upset and he made sure she knew.
"Fenly... I won't let my emotions win, I promise. I know what you mean and we have been practicing my control, remember? Exie dropped to one knee next to Fenly. She placed her right hand on his shoulder, reassuring him. "But I have to do this. For my parents, for my people, and the people we lost." Exie tried to remain strong but a single tear slid down her cheek, remembering what she went through all those years ago. The pain she felt when her parents didn't walk through the forest line with the others. Her mother's murder replayed in her head. She began to sob lightly.
Fenly took notice, he knew she was thinking about her mother. She only cried like this when the images replay in her mind.
"Exie, you have to promise to come home. For me and your people, and mostly for your mom. You're not ready to see her again and you know it." Fenly pulled Exie into a hug. Her shoulder-length, auburn hair fell in front of her now reddened face.
"I promise Fenly. I can do this. I promise... for her."