Spawning:
https://animebase.me/threads/sylvanas-windrunner.768978/
This post marks the begining of my storyboard mission with the following elements:
B-rank (3): Deal with a traumatic event from your past
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It was dawn in Gondolin, the territory of the Noldor clan. The first rays of sunlight shone through one of the long but narrow windows. But this was not any ordinary window to any ordinary chamber of the castle. It was the window of Sylvanas Windrunners chamber, one of the renowned members of the Noldor clan. Sylvanas was young in appareance, looking roughly 20 years old. Most, if not all members of the Noldor clan have tall, slender and muscular bodies, with beautiful skin. Sylvanas was pretty much the same as her fellow clansmen, with long ashen hair and pointy ears but she was paler then the rest of the clan and its members. The reason for this was a mystery even for the clan elders but they still accepted her nontheless.
The rays of the sun struck Sylvanas, making her ashen hair shine in the light. Though the image was beautiful, inner turmoil was happening within Sylvanas as she rested in her soon to be interrupted sleep. It was funny how the Noldor clan was able to cleanse all things unpure in the users eyes, yet Sylvanas was still haunted by the events of her and her clans past. The young elf was pestered that particular morning by a recurring nightmare.
It was always the same nightmare. Always the same images. Two beautiful elves, almost stunning upon sight. Pierced through the back. Before her very eyes. And then flames. Bright, hot, pure, holy. That was the day she had unlocked her clans kekkei genkai for the first time, the Holy Fire. All that remained of the Nekura was ashes and dust. Her parents layed on the ground, the blades they were slaughtered with gone leaving only a hole in each of them. And a hole twice the size in Sylvanas heart.
It was the day that the Noldor had suffered one of the biggest defeats in their long history at the hands of their archenemies, the Nekura clan. In the eyes of the Noldor, the Nekura were some of the most foul and impure creatures, forged and fueled directly by tools of evil and malice. The Noldor were the direct opposite of this, being pure and fighting for good. Of course there were exceptions within both clans, but most Noldor would always show despise for Nekura and frown upon their name. Sylvanas felt the same about the Nekura. They took away her world and ripped it in pieces.
She woke up, covered in sweat, screaming.
"Another nightmare." she said to herself, trying to calm her breathing. She sighed heavily. Even though she was young and should have been full of energy, she didn't feel either of those things. She felt old and tired. Tired not matter how much she sleeped or rested. And then a knock on her door.
"Lady Sylvanas! Are you alright?!" it was Gonodrion, one of the Noldor guards who also had a liking for Sylvanas. They were friends since childhood but Sylvanas never really showed any affection towards him, neither romantic nor friendly. But deep down she enjoyed his company, even craved for it but it was for selfish reasons. And out of those same selfish reasons she kept him as far away from her as possible so she would never feel the pain of losing someone again.
"Yes Gonodrion, I'm fine." she said, lying.
"Another nightmare?" he asked her, with worry radiating from his eyes.
Sylvanas sighed and nodded. Gonodrion approached her and stopped at the edge of her bed. "You should talk to the Elders about those dreams. They've been haunting you since... Well, you know."
Sylvanas turned her head away from him. "Leave me be Gonodrion. If I wanted to speak to the Elders I would have already."
"I think you won't have a choice." he handed her a small piece of parchment. "They are requesting your presence in the meeting chambers."
She took the piece of parchment from his hands, after which he turned around and left before giving her a last sorrowful, lingering look. She was once again alone. She opened the piece of parchment and read the invitation from the Elders. She had to hurry or else she would be late, and she di2dn't want to listen to another lecture from the Elders.
30 minutes later
After getting dressed, Sylvanas rushed to the meeting hall where the Elders were probably already waiting for her. After walking up and down a few staircases and corridors she arrived at the enterance of the meeting hall. She raised her arm to knock but just as her hand was about to hit the wooden door, it opened.
"We've been expecting you, Sylvanas Windrunner."
"Join us girl."
"Take a seat."
She sat onto the chair they had prepared for her.
"You had another nightmare."
"Gonodrion told you?"
"Actually, no. We heard your screaming."
"The entire castle hears them."
"Every time."
"So we have a proposal for you."
They had offered her so many options so far. Talking with them, making more friends in the clan, they even went so far to offer her to have her memory erased. That was a particularly nasty occassion where they had to lock her up for several days in a special chamber until she calmed down. The other options she simply refused.
"We want to help you, Sylvanas. We owe that to you, and your deceased parents as well."
"You've refused every possible option we gave you so far but we one that might be beneficial for all parties involved."
"We want you to be the voice of the Noldor to the rest of the world."
"An ambassador. To represent the Noldor in the best way possible. You've never left our lands. The farthest you've been is the southern coast of the Kaijuu ocean."
"And our stronghold and lands are where your parents were sadly killed."
"So we think, if you spend some time away from home and travel, it might help you in healing your wounds."
"I can't ju...." Sylvanas was just about to object but all three of the elders raised their hands to stop her.
"We don't expect or want an answer right now. You have 3 days to make a decision. You are free to leave."
Sylvanas thought of objecting again but then realized there was no point in trying to do it now. She would just wait 3 days and then tell them no anyways. There was no way she could leave her home, the only thing that reminded her of her lost parents. Or at least, so she thought at the moment. The Elders all stood up, and left into a side chamber to their right. Sylvanas did the same and left through the door she came in through and went with her usual activities of training. She had decided to give herself a break from all these tiresome thoughts by doing what she does best. Bow shooting.
The next day..
It was morning again in the land of the Noldor, but unlike the day before Sylvanas spent the night awake, laying in her bed and thinking about the Elders proposal. The more she thought about it, the more it seemed to have sense. Everyday she spent in the castle reminded her of her parents and their demise. Maybe some time away from home would help her with dealing with the past and help her heal at least a little. She was sick of waking up bathed in sweat each morning, screaming as she had to relive the tragedy that struck her family.
Sylvanas was notorius in the castle for being rebellious and disobeying and disagreeing with the Elders of the clan. Could it be that for the first time they actually proposed something good? Would traveling the world help her? What does she have to lose if going? The roads are dangerous but she was more than capable as a warrior. She had been training her whole life after all. So dangers along the road wouldn't be much of a problem for her.
She spent the next two days continuing to think about this matter. She had spent another night sleepless, alone in her room, caught deep in thought. She locked herself in, not allowing anyone to enter and bother her. Even Gonodrion hadn't come over to her room which was unusual for him. The occasional storm in her mind had turned into a furious, raging tornado of thoughts that kept her awake for two days.
"What if they are right? What is the worst thing that could happen?"
She had previously gotten the idea to leave, not once as a matter of fact. But each time so far she had discarded the idea rather quickly. How could she, after all leave her home? But maybe, just maybe, a change of pace in her life could be just what she needs. She was young. She couldn't spend the rest of her days moping in the castle. Even though her life was filled with darkness and anger from the day her parents had tragically died, there was perhaps a small seed of light out there, waiting to grow and help her deal with the loss of the ones closest to her. As she thought more and more about this the more convinced how sane this actually could be.
On the morning of the third day...
On the morning of the third day, the Elders were gathered in the meeting chambers, waiting for Sylvans to appear. She was already late 15 minutes and if they disliked anything it was tardiness. Suddenly Gonodrion rushed through the door, breathing heavily.
"Elders... She... she left!"
"What?!" they said in unison.
"I went to get her like you ordered me but she was nowhere to be found. In the end I broke down the door and found this." he handed a note to the three elders. The handwriting was unmistakebly hers. All the note said was yes.
Meanwhile on the borders of Gondolin...
By the time they were all reading this, Sylvanas was approaching the northern borders of Gondolin, heading towards the river valley of Leth Nurae. She was standing on one of the trees by the river and took one last look towards the stronghold of the Noldor. "I'll be back soon. I promise." Even though it was hard for her to leave the only home she ever knew, she felt like she was doing the right thing. And at that moment she turned away and jumped from the tree which was more than just a mere jump. It was a leap of faith, into a new future.
To be continued...
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Mission end and LLM.
