All the tales say that it began in Ravendale. That’s not true, that’s where Liz was merely born and where her journey began. The root of everything that unfolded can be traced back into the far past, before men wrote down their stories and when myth first walked the earth. I didn’t promise you that story, so another night; mayhap.
Named after its numerous ravens, Ravendale lied at the outskirts of Mistral Woods. The wood’s tall trees blocked out the sun so the further one delved into the woods, the harder it was to find one’s bearings. Despite not being mapped out completely, plenty of men from Ravendale made a living hunting the various animals within the dark woods, so much that the town was slightly famed for its pelts. It goes without saying, some of the hunters never came back. Of the men who chose not to hunt, they instead cultivated what land they could.
It was such a man, who chose to be a farmer, and his wife who were Liz’s parents. They were still new to Ravendale when Liz was born and on that fateful day, one life began at the cost of another. The farmer was unable to find a midwife in Ravendale that could help him, so he alone delivered his child. After the arduous birth he held in his arms the two people most precious to him, his dying wife and his newborn sleeping child. He promised his wife that he would care for their child as if she had the both of them. His wife just kissed him one last time, whispering, “Sorry I broke my promise; I know you’ll take care of Liz.”
He never remarried after her death, such was his love for her. He acted as both Liz’s father and mother while working the fields by himself. Thus the years passed, with Liz growing up learning more of the way of man than woman. Yes, our princess Liz was a tomboy. No more chortling. As I was saying, the farmer didn’t make any acquaintances in Ravendale, so plenty of gossip arose about him and his wild daughter. You’ll learn what they said about her in due time, child, do you want me to finish before bed? So, it was when she was thirteen that her story begins.
