The winged elf women idly strummed her sitar, leaning back against the chair. "You really want to hear about me?" she asked the man before her, who simply nodded. 'Well, then," She played another chord on her sitar, then set it down next to the chair, resting her hand on the top of it. "This is what happened..."
I don't remember much of my first several years. When I try, all I get are vague impressions of who I assume are my mother and father, tenderness, trees, and light. Then, as all good things do, it came to an end. I can recall a sense of sudden violence, then the next thing I knew I was lying on a bouncing bed, with a strange bearded face looking at me, making strange sounds with his mouth.
*laughs* Yes, that was Common, and I do speak it now, but back then all I knew was Elven. I'll get to that soon enough.
That bearded face was the man who saved me and raised me for the rest of his life, Heinel Rastani. His band of gypsies was traveling down teh road, when one of them spotted a small crumpled form. Heinel stopped his wagon and hopped down to check it out, and found a little winged girl, with pointed ears and a trickle of dried blood down her cheek. Rather than treating her as a freak and circus attraction, she was brought into Heinel's wagon and her head wound treated. And yes, that was me.
*shrugs* I don't know to this day what happened, but whatever it was gave me a knock on my head, which is probably why I have trouble remembering. And no, I won't show you the scar unless you want to meet in private later to see. *winks then laughs*
When I woke, I didn't know who I was... I'm probably lucky I remembered any language, but when I started asking questions in Elven, Heinel had no clue what I was saying. I was frightened, but he somehow managed to calm me down with a song. That was probably what got me interested in music.
They kept me hidden from outsiders at first, as they slowly taught me Common. As the one who seemed to take responsibility for me most of the time, Heinel also couldn't help but pick up some Elven too. I'm sure the mishmash we ended up speaking with each other and how well we seemed to get along is what prompted them to leave me in his custody.
Now after a few months I was starting to want to be more active. Before they'd just called me bird-girl, but now that I was understanding what they meant, I was a bit put out at it. After one particular fit I threw- oh, I was a real brat back then- Heinel just watched, then put his hand on my head and said "I now declare you my daughter, Maeve." He then proceeded to take me upside his knee and swat me senseless for throwing a fit.
From then on I was made an active part of the caravan. Like the other little gypsy girls, I was taught song and dance, and a few other skills besides. Some of them of course I didn't learn until later, since I was too young at the time. *winks again, then laughs at the reaction*
Of course I drew stares and comments from strangers from the villages we would camp near, but I had plenty of "brothers" and protectors. In the caravans, even with our separate families, we're all still one great big extended family. *sighs wistfully a moment* I wonder where they are now... *shakes her head clear* Anyways, I was an accepted part of our caravan, and that was the way things went for many years.
Being an elf, all my companions soon grew up and moved on to more adult things while I remained a child. This did cause some problems but nothing La Familia couldn't handle. Eventually as the next batch of children grew I even had new friends and companions to cause mischief with.
Heinel was a bachelor, so I never had any close brothers or sisters, merely La Familia for siblings. Even though I felt sad at times for him for taking so long to grow up, he never said anything about it. Finally though, about 50-60 years after I had been found- we never kept great track of time- I was beginning to grow into full adulthood.
Even still, I found all my new friends and companions growing faster than me. I guess I can be glad that Gypsy society is like Elven society, in that relationships come and go among us with no real problems like jealousy afterwards.
My dancing and singing helped La Familia with contributions from outsiders immensely. I also found I liked the sitar and lute, when my voice and body was too tired to go on. *pats the instrument next to her*
Even though I was a part of everything, I couldn't help but feel an outsider at times. For example, whenever I made a trip into town two of my "brothers" escorted me, but none of my "sisters" ever had an escort. I understand now why, but at the time... well, you know how teenage girls get. *giggles at a comment* True, elves don't make true teenagers in the human sense, but it's close enough.
A few years after I reached full adulthood, Heinel grew sick. I spent several months caring for him before he passed away. I think he could have lasted longer, but he seemed to just give up at the end when it was apparently he wasn't getting any better. I don't think he wanted to be a burden on me or La Familia.
No, no, it's nothing. Just old memories.
Anyways, with my last real family gone, I began to wonder what my original family was like. Within the year I said my goodbyes, made sure what I couldn't take with was parceled out to those who needed it the most, and made my way towards the Elven holdings in the west.
I never did find any Avariel in my time there, but I did meet and learn about my Elven heritage. I don't think they cared too much for my style of music... at least the golden ones didn't. *giggles*
I think my time there helped me figure myself out. Now I don't worry about what might have been if I had been raised by my original parents. What is, is. What will be, will be.
And that's all you're going to get out of me. *rises* The boys over there look like they're about ready to start playing, and I'm in a dancing mood.