The Tale of Midnightrogue

Roland paced back and forth, running his hand through his dirty blond hair. Standing 6 foot 2, he was well muscled, and walked with the air of a skilled fighter, but he couldn't fight this battle. The midwife had asked him to leave, saying he was getting in the way, but he was becoming alarmed. Thoughts came unbidden into his head, concern for his wife, and for his child. In mid stride, he heard the most beautiful sound in the world, a child's cry. His child's cry. Bursting through the door to his bedroom, he first checked his wife, who was breathing heavily, then his gaze focused on his child. He slowly walked to the midwife, and gently plucked his child from her arms. The little girl had a small amount of wispy blond hair, and the deepest blue eyes.

"Her eyes are as dark as Midnight…" he said softly to himself.

He grinned at his wife, and sat next to her on the bed.

Together they fawned over their child for hours.

*Some years later*

Aveline stood in the doorway, watching Middy play in the yard. She was tall and beautiful, so much so that people often wondered if there was elven blood in her lineage. As she watched her daughter play she pondered how Middy had become so agile recently, rapidly overcoming the unsteadiness most toddlers experience quickly. Middy also had developed fearlessness that slightly concerned Aveline, but this being her first child, she dismissed it. Middy looked up suddenly and sprinted to the gate, her daddy was home.

"Daddy…." She laughed as she ran to him.

"Hey sweetie" Roland said as he picked her up.

As they hugged, Middy asked her daddy

"How come you wear these weapons daddy?"

Setting her down, he squatted in front of her.

"Daddy has to protect the village from beasts and from people who would do harm to us."

"I want to help"

Roland chuckled "I know you do, but you are too little to wield a sword, but maybe…" he reached for his dagger, and handed it to Middy, still in its sheath. He heard Aveline gasp, but he waved her off.

"This is your dagger….now until you are ready, I want you to keep it in its holder, called its sheath. Daddy will train you how to use it correctly, and when the time comes, we will start working without the sheath, ok?" Roland grinned and ruffled his daughter's hair. Standing he walked to his wife, and hugged her.

"Don't worry dear" he whispered to Aveline "she will grow tired of it, and go on to other toys"

In the months to come, Roland discovered how wrong he was. Middy didn't grow tired of it; in fact she spent most of her time working with it. Every day when Roland came home, they would practice in the yard. They went through stances, parrying even some basic acrobatics. Middy soaked it all in and remembered every lesson. Roland couldn't have been more proud of his little girl.

*Some years later*

A dark cloaked man sat behind his desk, and in a deep voice said.

"Enter…"

In walked a cringing man, keeping his eyes on the floor

"You have found him?" the cloaked man asked

"Yes, master, they are both living outside a village to the west of here."

"Excellent. I want them taken care of. Send the ogres, but send a 'professional' along with them, to make sure the job gets done."

"Yes, master" bowing low, the cringing man backed out of the room, leaving the cloaked man to his plotting.

*Some months later*

As they sat down to dinner, something rattled the door, trying to get in.

"I wonder who that is." Roland said, concern covering his face.

As he went to the door, he grabbed his sword from over the doorway, and unsheathed it. Just then the door burst open splintering everywhere. Mid screamed and dove under the table, her mother close behind her. In through the door strode a hulking ogre. Mid peeked from under the table and saw four or five more behind that one, in the front yard.

"Get out the back, I'll keep them here." Roland shouted.

Aveline scooped Mid up, and ran to the kitchen and out the backdoor. She gave a sharp gasp, and collapsed on top of Mid. Mid heard something stomping through the door, into her house, but couldn't see her mother was pinning her to the ground. She heard signs of battle from in the house, and then running.

"I am taking them away, stay hidden till my return"

Mid strained and pushed her mother off of her. As she looked down at her, blood had pooled around her mother's body, and she was getting pale. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she began to sob. Her mother looked up at her and asked

"Where is your father? Is he ok?"

Mid, with tears streaming down her face, her midnight blue eyes darkened with sorrow, lied to her mother for the first time.

"Yes mother, he is ok…he will be back soon…. all will be right then"

Mid took her mothers hand and held it tight, blood seeping into her dress as she knelt in the sodden ground. Mid realized her mother wasn't gonna make it without help, but it was too far to go to town. She anxiously looked about for her father. Her mothers breathing started to become labored, and shallower. Mid leaned close to her, and wiped her forehead, whispering to her how it would be all right.

"Relax mother, just rest, father will be here soon, and you will be ok…"

Her mother's breathing hitched once, and at the same time Mid heard a wailing cry come from the direction her father ran. Mid knew in her heart, he was dead. She leaned over her mother, gave her a hug, and her mother slipped away as well…

Mid knelt there for hours holding her mother's hand, sobbing, until she passed out from exhaustion…

When she woke, there were people around her, and her mother's body was gone. Apparently someone had heard the ruckus in the village and came to investigate. Mid walked into her house in a daze. Someone tapped her on the shoulder, and she spun around

"Now, child," the elderly woman said in a kind voice "Do you have family that can look after you?"

"Yes…my uncle lives not too far from here….he will look after me"

"Well then, let’s pack your things, so we can get you to him" the woman replied.

As the aged woman packed her things, Mid sat on her bed, staring blankly at the wall. When the woman was finished, Mid reached under her bed, and pulled out a blanket, wrapped up in a ball, and shoved that into the bag, Mid wasn't leaving the dagger behind. Mid walked through the house one last time, tears again streaming down her cheeks, and she walked out the door…

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