Post by Patty
((Suffering from fanficitus. Yes, I invented that just now! Big whoopie! As usual, feel free to leave any feedback; good or bad as all is appreciated. I apologise in advance for the wall of text.))
--
‘Would you stop that, Alicia?’ A portly, middle-aged human in a rather strained waistcoat asked irritably.
‘Sorry, father,’ Responded the girl, who had long blonde hair and was wearing a simple dress. ‘Bad habit.’ She added.
‘It’s rather awful! Not at all lady-like…’ Alicia’s father ranted. ‘Why do you bite your nails anyway?’ He enquired. The young woman simply shrugged.
‘Dunno.’ She mumbled. The man sighed loudly, and marched off towards the kitchen. Alicia could smell something cooking, it was almost like a familiar perfume of her mother‘s.
The human girl stared idly at her living room, it wasn’t grand; but fairly cosy. She put one of her arms at the side of the plump, comfortable sofa she was sat on. Sunlight pierced through the glass, brightening the room. ‘It’s ready!’ An easily recognisable voice called.
‘Okay, mother.’ Alicia replied, peeling herself from the upholstery and walking towards the kitchen. Alicia’s mother had a soft face, and greying mousy brown hair. Alicia sat at the side of the table, and sipped on some orange juice as quietly as possible. Her eyes trailed their way down to the table, where she saw some roasted potatoes with pork, gravy and all of the trimmings. She cut the potato delicately, placing a small amount on her fork. It was deliciously crispy on the outside, but soft on the inside. Alicia couldn’t help but admire her mother's culinary skills.
‘Your table manners really are coming along, dear.’ The older woman observed.
The girl let out a slight smile, but her father hastily said that ‘It’s an uphill struggle, Clair.’ Alicia’s mother frowned.
‘Jim, you are too hard on the poor girl.’ Clair said, placing a forkful of pork in her mouth gracefully. Jim shook his head, but stayed silent - for once.
“Thank the Light for small fortunes!” Alicia thought, smirking.
After a few moments, the three humans’ plates were cleared. ‘Thanks.’ She nodded to her mother. ‘Is it alright if I go out for a while? I need some fresh air.’ The girl asked sincerely. Jim grumbled to "Be back before sunset." And pulled a letter out of his pocket, perching some glasses on his nose. Alicia exclaimed ‘Yeah, of course!’ As she put some shoes on and ran outside, starting to mumble about her “bad posture“ and “poor social skills“ In a quite accurate impression of her father.
"Elwynn forest is beautiful in the summer," she thought as she stared in wonder at the trees and the green grass which was glowing with sunlight. The girl walked past some vividly coloured songbirds, and found a small stream after strolling for what seemed like hours. She sat herself down on the soft grass, took off her shoes and dipped her foot into the cool water. Alicia smiled, the chill of the running stream was refreshing and she relaxed, sighing contentedly as she wriggled her submerged toes.
A watery-eyed red squirrel bounced over to her, a nut clenched tightly in its hands. She stroked the creature, enjoying the tranquillity of the woods. The human caught a glance of something, a shadow. She paid it no attention, thinking that
“It was probably an animal.”--
Hagin sat on the polished wooden chair, his short legs dangling from it. He twirled some of his short, green beard around his index finger uninterestedly. The gnome frowned, and picked up a bottle of ale he had ordered. The general hubbub was present in the Ironforge Inn, people conversing and socially drinking - mostly. An aggressive dwarf had roughly pulled a barmaid towards him, and his hands were all over her. Hagin turned away in disgust; the forthright debauchery was too much at this time of day for the mage.
He shook his head and sighed, not really understanding why some people were so rude.
“Some people are truly desperate, I guess…” The gnome thought, raising the drink to his parched lips. Hagin was rudely interrupted by a loud crash on the table he had decided to sit at, and hopped off of his chair. Evidently; somebody had tried to remove the aggressive drunk - and caused some kind of a brawl. The gnome reached up to open the Inn door, and walked outside with his drink still in his hands.
The mage sat down on a bench in the city which overlooked the great forge that the dwarves took particular pride in. He wiped his forehead as a bead of sweat trickled down it; this place was ridiculously hot according to him. He opened his bag, looking for something to pass the time.
He rummaged through the satchel, emptying his robes and he found an envelope, with some pieces of parchment inside. Hagin didn’t quite remember what was in the envelope, so slid his hand into it and pulled out a photograph of a fair haired couple clutching a newborn baby, bundled in soft pink cloth. The gnome stared at it for a moment and sighed sadly - reminded of his failures. He put the ale to his lips once again, the sharp aftertaste somewhat shocking the gnome.
He pondered for a moment how the girl was doing, how old she was and what she was currently doing. The mage felt ashamed and worthless as he looked at the beaming adults in the photograph, anger building within him. He sighed again and finished the bottle of alcohol in his hands. Hagin thought about how he could atone for his weaknesses. He slid off of the bench and hobbled towards his house, he would need to organise himself.
--
Alicia arrived back at her cottage just before sunset, the forest tinted a pinkish colour by the disappearing star. Even from outside, she could hear raised voices. Her parents merely strained a smile at her, and suggested that she went upstairs for a while; being told that she would be shouted when dinner was ready. The girl complied, eager to get out of the tense atmosphere.
She closed her bedroom door and sat on her freshly made, inviting bed, looking outside of her window as she watched the sun set for some time. Every now and again, she would hear her mother yelling that “She’s too young!“ Or her father saying something along the lines of “She’s a grown woman now!“.
When Alicia lost her patience, she looked at her beech bookcase and stared at the book titles; trying to find something interesting. The young woman stumbled upon a book which intrigued her. It was bound by black leather and in golden inscriptions, it read
“Tales of Priscilla” And she picked it up eagerly, she hadn’t read this. She opened the book as she sat back down on her plush bed and began reading about Priscilla, the daughter-of-a-noble-turned-dragon-slaying-heroine, enthralled.
‘Dinner!’ A muffled voice screamed, and Alicia folded the page she was on and closed the book. Tea was sufficiently awkward, her parents not having said anything at all - merely exchanging glances. The silence was broken by her father after Alicia had finished her meal.
‘Alicia, as you know you turned eighteen several days ago.’ He said to her.
‘I know how old I am…’ She replied, rolling her eyes.
Jim gave her a stern look, before continuing. ‘I’m going to Stormwind tomorrow for some trade; and I would like you to come with me.” He casually shrugged.
‘There is someone you need to meet.’ He added. Alicia’s mother looked at him with a piercing glare, her lips tightly pursed.
‘Alright then, father.’ The young woman replied, before rushing to get back to her book.
It was now getting dark, and Alicia read by candlelight for hours, eventually drifting to sleep and dreaming vividly of a beautiful and strong female warrior hacking and slashing honourably through an army of enemies alone, armed only with a gleaming sword.
((
Part 2.))