As a child, Laura was as carefree as they come. She had ginger hair that her father usually pulled back into a ponytail to keep it out of her eyes as she ran around town, and her baby blue eyes missed nothing. She played with the other towns kids, played pranks on the city guards, and annoyed her mother by returning home covered in dirt with the cheekiest of grins plastered across her freckled face. Life was good. One day however, things started to take a turn for the worst.

She had come home early because she wanted to surprise her father with a flower crown that she had made. Upon entering her house, she saw a man she didn’t recognize sitting at the dining room table. He turned to her, looking away from a strange book that he was reading, and asked her where her mother was. Laura was confused, she assumed it was one of her father’s workmates or one of the mages from the keep that came to visit her mother. The man asked again.

“Where is your mother, girl?” the tone was harsher and more urgent.
“I think she might still be at the market.” Laura replied. “She should be back shortly”
“That will not do. Go seek her out. Tell her Jasper is here and wishes to see her. I will wait.” The way he conveyed this made Laura shake in fear. She wanted to be anywhere but here. Bolting out the door she leaped down the steps. Back down the path and into the town square.
“MOMMA!” she yelled searching frantically, more confused and scared than before. Nearer to the end of the street she saw her mother conversing with one of the towns guards. Laura sprinted up to her and pulled at the side of her skirt. “Momma, there’s a scary man in our house!”
Her mother looked down. Confused. “There’s a man in our house? Are you sure its not your father covered in muck again?”
“NO! ITS NOT! HE HAD HAIR LIKE YOU, BUT HE WAS SCARY”
“Like me?” Her mother’s face became more serious. “Did he give his name?”
“JASPER! HE, he said his name was Jasper.” Her mother’s expression suddenly darkened, and she turned to the guard she had been talking too.
“Go find my husband. Take Laura with you. Tell him to come immediately.” The guard nodded “Yes, Madam Crimsonmane, right away! Come Laura, let’s find your father.” He grabbed Laura’s hand and started heading back up towards the keep
“MOMMA WAIT!”
“Don’t worry sweetie I’ll see you at home.” Somehow Laura knew that was the last time she would see her mother as she was dragged up to the Jarls keep, kicking and screaming as they neared the massive oak doors. Laura never liked the Keep. It was too neat. Too orderly. Not enough adventure, and she always got caught sneaking around. She was pulled through the front doors and straight onto the main floor. Before her sat the Jarl, and beside him her father.
“Laura? What is the,” he stopped. Seeming to notice how distressed Laura was. He rushed over, clasping both hands on her shoulders and forced to stand still. “What’s wrong.” His voice serious.
“ITS MOMMA! THERES A MAN IN OUR HOUSE! HE SAID HIS NAME WAS JASPER! HE WAS SCARY, AND HE WANTED TO TALJK TO MOMMA! I THINK SHES IN DANGER!” tears began to well in Laura’s eyes.
Her father looked back at the man sitting in the chair. The man nodded and stood up, then began ordering people around. He appeared almost as scared as Laura.
“Laura, listen very carefully. You know the entrance to the hidey hole in the guard’s quarters correct?” Laura nodded “I want you to go there and stay there until someone comes to get you. Do you understand darling?”
“But what... what... what about momma?” Laura barely could get the words out in between the sobbing and tears.

“I’m going to her now. I won’t let anything bad happen to her I promise” He stood up and rushed to the doors.
Time began to move strangely for Laura after that point. There was panic, and the funneling of people into the keep, there was screaming and loud noises coming from outside the keep. However, Laura stayed in her spot as promised. The shaking and the screaming got louder, and Laura remained in her spot as promised. Eventually the screaming stopped, and all fell silent. She didn’t know how long she spent down there. After a while she stopped crying and shaking and sat still. Traumatized by both she memory of the screams, and now the silence. She passed out shortly after.
When she awoke she was in a bed? She heard water and birds crying out. She looked to her right. To her surprise was her father. He looked overjoyed to see her awake. Tears dripped from his eyes as he embraced her.
“Father, what happened, where are we, where’s momma.” She tried to sit up but found herself weak and sapped of strength.

“Here,” He helped her up, wiping the tears from his face and placed a bowl of something in her lap. “Eat first my daughter. Regain your energy, then we will talk.”

3 days passed until they reached their destination. A place Laura nor her father had any knowledge about. Her father had given her the most minor of details. Just bits and pieces to stop her questions. However, when her father asked questions about what she remembered her head started to hurt and she began to shake. After a few weeks they had found lodging and her father had found work at a bar.

13 years have passed since the day Laura and her father don’t speak about. Laura now has turned 19 and honed her skills as a ranger and as a fighter. In this time, they have traveled all around. Taking jobs and living off the land. Laura spends most of her time out in the wilderness hunting and selling her catch to local merchants in the area whilst her father goes out on escort jobs. They always meet at the destination of her father’s bodyguarding missions. Although she keeps her playful nature she rarely talks unless absolutely necessary.

OC Laura Filla Crimsonmane© belongs to CrimsonSalamandr

Artwork by the super amazing awesome Rush--it