19 years ago
A New Hope
And the spies came out of the water
But you're feeling so good because you know
That those spies hide out in every corner
And they can't touch you, no
Because they're just spies
–from Spies, by Coldplay
A soft whimpering beside me jolts me awake, and I find myself upright against a tree, the little half-drow girl sitting to my right, watching the moonlit ripples in the nearby lake as they recede into stillness. As I stir, the pain in my shoulder flares up, and I grit my teeth, groaning as I rise to my feet. I look around. It seems that we are safe, though the cave is nowhere in sight, and my wounds appear to have been skillfully wrapped to prevent any blood loss. Confused, I look to the girl once again, her gaze still fixed on the water.
"Come litte one, we need to go. I need to get you someplace safe."
Taking her by the hand, I lead her along the treeline as I begin to get my bearings, finally recognizing our location as I catch a glimpse of the northbound cartpath leaving Waterdeep. How we managed to make it here, nearly a day's walk from the mining site, I cannot fathom. Either I managed quite well in my blacked out state, or the girl and I had a quiet guardian. A cart, or even a horse, would make this journey to Maura's much easier, but I cannot risk being recognized by anyone. Compounding matters, I suspect we will be traveling exclusively by moonlight, the girl's eyes being too sensitive to sunlight to make day travel viable.
Day will be breaking soon. We should rest up and start the journey tonight.
With a soft smile, I lead the girl to the side of the road, ducking into the high brush under the shade of some tall elms. As I lay down in the grass, the girl, almost instinctively, lays down beside me, nuzzling her face against my chest. Within minutes, she is asleep and I close my eyes as well, my sleep fitful as I pay attention to each changing sound around us. As night falls once again, I awake to find the girl watching me, a little smile on her face. Dusting myself off, I rise and take her hand.
"Time to go, little one."
As we head north once again, the tall roadside grass keeping us partially concealed from any nighttime travelers, I begin to wonder about the motivations of those who wanted this girl dead. Senator Roth's advisors likely had political reasons, worrying that opponents would prey upon the prejudices of the populace by exposing the senator's "indiscretions". A sin of unadulterated greed, a drive to protect their positions of power and their livelihoods. The One believed that his role, through the Crimson Tide, was to cleanse Waterdeep of corruption with the blood of the guilty. I had spent the majority of the last two years believing in him and his burgeoning sins of pride. But this girl, she is not one of the guilty. Perhaps The One cannot see that. Pride blinds him more completely than even the thickest magical darkness ever could. This little girl, she is my hope. She is living proof that even a criminal like myself can rise above sin and reach out toward the good and the virtuous and do so out of no motivation other than a desire to do what is right.
"Hope."
As though it were a sign from the gods, the little girl looks up at me and smiles. I smile back to her.
"Every little girl needs a name. I'll call you Hope."
Knock, knock, knock
Night has just begun to fall as I knock on the front door of Maura's house.
She is probably settling down to dinner with her husband now. I wonder if she will even remember me. It's been at least three years since father and I were here.
The door opens slowly and Maura peeks around it, her face illuminated by lantern light.
"Yes, hello? Who is… um... Penny? Is that... you?"
"Sorry to bother you Maura, but, I need a... favor."
"Well, sure dear come right on in- is that a ... drow? Oh dear."
"I'll explain everything Maura, I promise."
A few seconds pass after Hope and I walk into the house before I can hear the soft click of the door shutting and the latch coming to rest in its proper place.
"Good evening, Richard," I say to her husband who simply nods, his soup-filled spoon hovering in the air near his mouth where it had come to rest at the sight of us.
"Maura, Richard, this is Hope. She is a half-drow, the daughter of Senator Roth of Waterdeep. We are here because Roth's advisors and a band of drow each want her dead. It isn't safe for her in Waterdeep. I had hoped that maybe you would... care for her. Give her a new life, a chance at being a normal little girl rather than prey running from a hunter."
"You took her from Waterdeep under these pretenses?" Maura's voice gives away her nervousness. "Were you followed?"
"No. We avoided renting a wagon, and walked here amid the high brush. The trip was quite.. long."
"Penny dear, you know about my daughter. You know I'd love nothing more than to have the chance to raise a little girl, but... what if they find her?"
"I can't promise you they won't, Maura. But I'm out of options. If not you, then who?"
"Oh goodness." Maura rubs her forehead in thought as she pauses for what seems like forever. She looks to Richard, then back to me. "Well, it's a good thing we kept all of Angela's things after the accident."
"Thank you," I whisper into Maura's ear while hugging her. "I don't know how much common she understands, but she seems to respond to her name."
"Well, that's a start then. Come now, both of you sit and have some dinner with us. We can talk more in the morning."
As Maura says this, I take Hope's hand and lead her over to the seat that I sat in when father and I stopped here years ago. Perhaps the soup has some magical properties, because a sense of peace like I've never experienced before washes over me while I eat.
"You sure you have to go so soon, Penny?" Maura asks from the doorway with Hope clinging to her leg, watching me.
"I don't want to stay in one place too long, just in case, Maura. But don't worry, I'll be back to visit."
"Where will you go in the meantime then? Not back to Waterdeep, I'd imagine."
"A month or so ago, I received word from my sister Lillie that she'd moved North, to a land called Narfell. I think I'll go visit her there for awhile."
I wave to them both as I set out toward Port Llast.
Passage to Narfell will likely be expensive, so I imagine I'll have to work for awhile in town before I'll have the money to make the journey.
Slowly, Maura's house grows more distant, and the southern walls of Port Llast become apparent up ahead.
I'll be back someday soon. When I do return, I know I'll find Hope happy, beautiful, and full of love.
Afterall, happiness, beauty, and love are the qualities that grow when hope is given a chance to blossom.
THE END
