Legends of Belariath
Giselle
A slave. A slave born to a slave. Her mother was a dark elf, captured by a human. Possibly the owner of the mother, and her. She grew up knowing nothing of her own kind. Her mother never talked much about her life before. As such, Giselle is not the same as most moriel. She doesn't strive to dominate all about her. Nor does she follow Kirva, or any god for that matter.
Life moves on, and eventually change occurs. In her case, her body revealed its true nature as she reached her teens. She was not just moriel, but a half breed. The curve on her hips and the fullness of her breasts showed all that she had a human father. Life, as bad as it was for a slave, got more difficult. Another reason for the women of the village to snip at her. The men's reaction was harsher than the women's. Attracted to her obvious beauty, yet repelled by her dual nature, they both lust after her, and scorn her as well. Giselle isn't old enough to understand what is going on. Her mother stays silent about it, having been completely broken into a submissive slave. Only the master seems to show a hint of sympathy, due to his growing suspicion that she is his daughter. However, to acknowledge such would bring on ridicule at best. The problem is solved as most problems are. Not by coming up with a solution that satisfies the needs and wants of all involved. No, that would take time, perhaps money, and worse of all, effort. No, the solution becomes the Gordian one, just cut the knot, and if the rope is now useless, just toss it away with the others that litter the solution trash heap.
No need to spend the effort, even sell her. Just tell her she is now free, expect the gratitude, but receive only confusion of the girl. Makes the next step of ordering her to go, that much easier. And for the free slave, it is just another order to be obeyed. She leaves and goes thru a blur of travel. Her assets are only two. Her body and the knowledge of how to dance, one of the few things learned from her mother, who, for reasons unknown, excelled in belly dancing. Which brought her to the attention of a powerful warlord. He ruled absolutely. And won battles. His men adored him, knowing that he would give out praise where it was due, punish only when you made avoidable mistakes, no favorites, no exceptions. Many of his advisors grumbled at the last, but not too loudly. Thus, when he took her first as a slave, then mistress, and finally one of his wives, no one dared say anything. Well, other than the sly remarks, carefully worded to bring no hint of dishonor to him, and more quiet grumbling. This was the best time of her life and she remembers the warlord even now, more than the others that came before or afterwards.
For fate moves on, and the warlord's fate was to die. His enemies finding Giselle to be a chink in his armor managed to kidnap her. The warlord, proud, becomes impulsive. Rather than seeking any settlement, he launches an attack against them. Just as they planned he would. The trap, having been laid, is sprung. Yet his ability to command comes to the fore, and his troops break through the trap. Seeing their plans going to ruin, another reason to hate the warlord, it is decided to kill Giselle, to get back at the warlord in this small way. Word is sent to her guards to dispose of her in as much pain as possible before killing her. In the confusion of battle, other captives have escaped, and disclose the location of Giselle's captivity.
Now the race is on. The guards receive the word and begin the torturing of the elfling. Is it her beauty or their cruelty that distracts them so much, that the fighting starts and finishes outside of the tent, without them realizing their doom closing in on them. The warlord is the first to burst inside the tent. The enemy guards look up at his cry, turning to defend themselves. More of the warlord's men stream in, and as the guards learn of the hopelessness of their position, one turns back to Giselle, to follow thru with the last order given. The warlord sees what the man is about to do, and leaves off his attack of another, to run the man thru with his sword. Leaving himself open to his own attacker, who does the same to the warlord. The warlord cries out again, this time in mortal agony. When his men hear his cry, they go berserk. No quarter is given, and pieces of the enemy's flesh strew the tent floor and walls. The warlord is brought before a healer, and as an afterthought, so is the torn body of Giselle. For the former, it is too late. For the latter, she survives just barely.
The battle proves to be successful, but most would say at too high of a cost. Blame must be assigned, and of course, it is placed upon Giselle. Yet the memory of the warlord is so strong, that the advisors dare not kill her. No, the men, even while blaming Giselle for the warlord's death, would never allow this. For that smacks too close to being what the enemy wanted, and would tarnish the warlord's image. The advisors announce that the half-breed is being sent away to help recover from her wounds and trauma. Immediately. Her wishes to stay for the funeral are brushed aside, and she goes. The only man that really cared for her, and she can't say goodbye.
She is given a dagger, the clothes on her back, and a pack with a bit of food. The healer gives her a few coins, not so much for her, but for the memory of what she meant to the warlord. She goes, the last words she hears being a warning to not return. She travels again. Stopping here and there to earn enough to go on to the next place. Nanthelion apparently is a 'here'.