Ilmarian and I were often left in the care of Caradryan as Father mentored Kalikyn and Nadon in the caravan business. I learned very early on the advantages of being the only girl in a house full of men. Smiles and hugs often got me what I wanted and if that did not work, then a pouting lip and tears in my eyes would almost certainly do the trick! This irritated “Il” to no end because the older boys would laugh when he tried the same tactics on them. Oh, but he still managed to get away with bloody murder because of his “baby” status. I suppose it’s fair enough to state that both “Il” and I were quite spoiled growing up. However, as much as Father and the older boys doted on me, I still had to learn to defend myself from their unending pranks. Being the only girl has its disadvantages as well! “Il” and I often banded together to get back at the older boys for various “wrongs” they had done one of us. All in all, my childhood was a happy one. Yes, I wished Mother had been around to guide me into womanhood. And, I wished that “The Cousins” had not lost their parents to the green-skins. But, nevertheless, I was still happy.
As “Il” and I grew towards the cusp between childhood and adulthood, the older boys spent their free hours teaching us the old elven songs and dances as a reminder of our heritage. “Il” and I had never been to Athel Loren and the stories that the older boys would tell were fascinating to us. It took a lot of eyelash batting, pretty pleases, and down-right begging for Kalikyn and Nadon to finally relent and teach me what they knew of fighting. I had secret aspirations to become a warrior one day, although admitting that to my family would have meant getting locked in my room for all eternity. They all expected me to live the safe and comfortable life of a wife and mother some day.
It was around this time that Nadon left us to go to Couronne for more training. I was so very upset that he had left us. And then, Caradryan and Kalikyn decided to follow him. One of them leaving was bad enough, but all three was completely unacceptable. Abandoning all pretense that I had not just been eavesdropping on a private conversation, I screamed and yelled at them until my voice grew hoarse. The tears that sprang to my eyes at the end of my tirade were real for once and thank the heavens that it still worked. Caradryan and Kalikyn stayed.
Three more happy years passed at my Father’s house. And then it all came crashing down upon our ears. Father had gone on a caravan run and it was attacked by green-skins on the return trip. Seth, from the town watch, came late one night to inform us. It was two days after Father had been due back home, but we had not been too concerned because caravan delays are common. I don’t remember anything after that. I don’t remember the weeks that followed either. When Caradryan brought up the subject of Couronne again, I agreed, much to my own surprise.