The sky was just starting to lighten as the sun prepared for its ascent in the sky. The gentle strings of a mandolin was the only sound, its beautiful melody filling the forest air and breaking the usual quiet that surrounds this time-frame, accompanied by a sweet voice humming along.

The song continued on for a good few minutes still before the player brought it to an end, carefully placing the beautiful instrument down next to her and standing up and stretching out her limbs. Seeing her movement, an impatient neighing was soon directed at her, causing a smile to spread over her lips as she started tending to the impatient horse. The pale skin of her hands in a sharp contrast to the horse's pitch black body, not unlike the half-elf's own raven locks.

"Okay, Ava, okay, I'm getting you an apple right now, relax."

Only a person with a heart made out of stone could resist smiling at the animal's clear joy at the prospect of getting a treat and the girl wasn't one of them. Her emerald eyes twinkling with mirth as her companion basically inhaled the unsuspecting fruit.

The horse's needs met, her attention turned to her small campsite. Packing up her supplies and clearing up after herself was a quick process, a lot of experience speeding things up significantly and soon she was on the back of her horse, riding towards her destination. The city of Tamberle.

If her information is correct, her highness, Lady Maren, had been heading in that direction, hopefully she'll be able to get there before her highness moves on. If not, she'll try to pick up the trail again.

Elithiana had never been known to give up, after all. A trait that she most certainly received from the human side of her parentage, especially considering who her uncle is.

A smirk crossed her face at the thought of that grizzled old war veteran and she urged her beautiful steed to go faster. She knows that he would approve of what she's trying to do, even if her mother might not be as pleased at the prospect. After-all, in her words, a lady has no place on the battlefield...she'll understand, though...eventually...and even if she doesn't...El can't just sit back and watch blood be spilled and innocents suffer under the 'king' Mago's rule anymore! She [i]has[/i] to do something to help!

Which is why she is currently seeking out her highness, to offer her services willingly and freely. She might not be able to do anything significant, but as long as she's helping in any way, shape or form, she'll be satisfied.

[hr] 

Several hours had passed since she set out that morning and she finally had her destination in sight, though with the sight in front of her, Elithiana almost wished that she didn't.

The remnants of a battle lay all around her as she rode through towards the city gate, it caused a sick feeling to well up inside her and she tried not to focus on the bodies.

It wasn't hard to guess what had happened here, obviously the city was attacked, and luckily it seemed as if it had survived...though, at what cost she dreaded finding out.

Entering the gate, she dismounted and walked over to a nearby town guard. It wasn't necessary to ask what happened, or how bad the battle affected this town, his tired and wary eyes, his obvious injuries and the condition of the city answered that easily enough, so she jumped straight to business.

"What can I do to help?"