((Hey guys, before you respond again, check the Discussion Thread (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=57640.0).  There's some confusion going on that needs to be cleared up.))<br/><br/>Raegion made Kitherit feel more intimidated then ever, as their small group stopped to speak with him.  There was no mistaking the look in his eyes as he gazed at her with a malicious smirk.  As he turned on his heel and vanished, Malith's words reassured her, and she smiled timidly.<br/><br/>On entering the large chamber, her eyes immediately moved to find the Elders, and she looked quickly between them.  These were the ones who would ultimately decide her fate, she knew.  Most of their expressions were unreadable, though she did notice one or two who appeared suspicious of her.  It was the one who spoke up first that held most of her attention.  She didn't know why but he immediately set her at ease.  There was a kind of ancient wisdom about him, and a kindness in his eyes.  She was startled when he spoke to her in perfect common, too.<br/><br/>She listened to the conversation in Elvish, and stood patiently with her hands clasped in front of her.  Then Locien spoke directly to her.  "Ildra and Malith have told us of the events of the morning.  They also tell me something troubling.  Is it true that the humans were threatening to kill you, child?"<br/><br/>Kitherit bit her lip for a moment, and nodded, before taking a deep breath and speaking.  "My Mother's name was Thaiessa, and she was a human originally from a village far from here.  She met my Father in the forests around her home.  She never told me much about that time, except that she loved him, but they couldn't stay together.  It wasn't until later she realized she was carrying his child, and had no way to let him know.  It isn't just half-elf children who are at risk, Mother's are too.  They're considered tainted, and are forever after persecuted for what they did.  It's not unusual for them to be killed, too."<br/><br/>She paused for a moment to allow Locien to translate, and she could tell from the horrified looks on the faces of those around her that this was entirely unknown to them.  She then continued.  "Of course it's usually not discovered until the baby is born.  Once it is discovered though, the infant is always killed immediately.  I don't really know why, but they fear the idea of a human child with Elf blood.  It's like a superstition to them.  The only reason I survived is because my Mother fled her home, where she would have no other way to explain her pregnancy, and moved to another village far away.  She told the people there that she had been betrayed by the man she loved, and the town had believed him instead of her, and she'd had to flee.  The people of her new home believed her, and accepted her amongst them.<br/><br/>"When the time came for her to give birth, she was extremely careful.  She had made a friend in the village, someone she could trust, and she confided the truth to her.  Her friend was the one who helped her give birth, and immediately wrapped me in cloth to hide my ears.  For the rest of my childhood, my Mother kept me hidden a great deal, at least until I was old enough to know why I couldn't show my ears to anyone.  Why I couldn't let anyone know what I was.  I learned after that how to hide the truth, and keep myself safe.<br/><br/>"It wasn't until yesterday that the truth came out.  A boy pulled my hood down, and saw my ear through my hair.  A man came over to see what was happening, and had grabbed a hold of me.  I knew immediately what was going to happen, and as soon as he let go I ran for my life.  I could hear them chasing me, calling me demon spawn, and threatening me.  They chased me into the forest, and I didn't even pay attention to where I was going.  I just wanted to get away from them.  I honestly don't know how I was able to keep ahead of them, but it was like they just couldn't keep up with me.  I didn't stop until after nightfall, when I fell asleep.  Ildra found me the next morning."<br/><br/>As she told her tale, she continued to glance around the chambers, especially whenever she paused to let Locien translate for her.  The Elders all showed more interest now, laced with varying looks of pity, concern, and on a few, disbelief.