When Kitherit had finished her story, she watched her two friends with a worried look.  She didn't know how they would respond.  She immediately caught Malith's anger, but she was able to recognize it as anger for what had happened to her, and not anger at her.  Especially as he spoke and gestured to his own ears.  She nodded to him.  "They never knew I was half Elf until yesterday.  They may have suspected, but they didn't know for certain."<br/><br/>She smiled happily as both Malith and Ildra told her they were glad to have her with them, and she felt tears in her eyes.  She ducked her head for a moment, before looking up again.  "Thank you.  I didn't know if I could be accepted as an Elf.  I did not know if you would react the same as Humans do.  They kill any baby that is half elf.  I have never heard of another like me surviving this long.  My Mother was very brave.  She was Human, and left her home when she knew she was having a baby.  She knew what I would be.  She went where people wouldn't know her, and lied to them about my Father.  She told them he had died, leaving her alone."<br/><br/>She wasn't entirely certain why she was letting this all spill out, now.  But it was the first time in her life she had ever felt like she could tell the truth about herself, about her Mother.  It was an intense relief to be able to share it, now.  In a place where she felt more comfortable then she ever had in her home village.