Let's see where this one goes.

Rhia found herself sitting against the town's well, cup of sweet-smelling water in hand. She let her gaze wander the streets as she drank. She almost felt sorry for them. The war going on in the neighboring countries was destroying the economy for these small villages, and times were rough. Their farming was going fine, but the food couldn't be traded. All the trade routes were now highways for the warriors in the war, and it would be suicide to use them for anything besides that. The town was falling apart without the money and resources to repair it.
She sighed and closed her eyes as she lifted the cup to her lips again. Just as she swallowed, a beautiful sound floated over to her ears. Her eyes drifted open. Laughter? In a place like this? Her eyes suddenly went wide as she took in those streets with a whole new light. The people; they weren't sad. They weren't depressed. The laugh had come from a young man who had just brought some firewood to an old couple on his cart. How could it be that they were all so...happy? Content? Can't you see you're all going to wither away into nothing, she wanted to cry. She lowered her gaze, brow furrowed as she felt all the worse for the people. Did they not even realize they were doomed? If they didn't fade away, they would surely get ransacked and pillaged. It had been happening all across the countryside.
"You look rather tired."
Rhia jerked her head up, glancing towards the voice. The young man she heard laughing... She looked away again and rested her arm on the bag that sat on the well beside her. "It's in a wanderer's nature to be tired."
"Hahaha. Is that so?" That laugh again. She liked that laugh. "I've never seen a wanderer as tired as you. Or as depressed."
"These are trying times."
"Are they? Yes, I supposed they are. Say, do you have a place to stay?"
"I was going to stay at the inn." The town needed the money.
"Nonsense. My wife would be glad to have you come stay with us."
She turned to face him, look of confusion in her eyes. "How could you say that?"
He blinked, looking rather taken aback. "What do you mean?"
"This place... Don't you think it could use all the business it can get? I'm willing to pay to stay the night."
He smiled gently, a wisdom in his eyes she hadn't expected to see. "Do you really think one night's board is enough to save this town?"
Again her eyes widened. They weren't ignorant, then?
"We're prepared for what's to become of this place. We decided as a people that we would not dwell on it. Now come, it is getting late. And I'm rather hungry. Nadine won't be pleased with me if I'm late."
She slowly lowered her gaze, considering his words. She still wasn't entirely sure she understood; facing death gracefully was not something she had yet been forced to grasp. But, at his urging, she lifted her bag over her shoulder and began to follow him.
They would come to one of the smaller houses on the edge of the busier part of town. Only two rooms by the look of it - a main living space, including a small pit to cook over, and a sleeping area. As they approached, a young girl would rush out the walkway, running to the young man.
"Daaaaady!"
The man laughed as he let go of the cart to pick the girl up. "Casey! How are you, little one?"
"Mommy says dinner will be ready soon. Who's that?" The girl's eyes fell on Rhia, tilting her head.
He set her down, motioning to Rhia. "This is a new friend. She's a wanderer... Um.."
"It's Rhia." She glanced to Casey, her heart aching as she thought of the children of the town going under with them.
"Ah. Well, Casey, this is Rhia. Why don't you go tell mommy we have a guest for dinner?"
"Okay!" The girl grinned and ran inside to do as her father said.
He looked over at her again, offering her his hand. "My name is Richard. Please, eat with us. You can stay at the inn if you insist, but at least humor us in eating here."
She watched him for a long moment, then gave a sigh and took his hand. "Fine. I'll do as you ask."
He smiled and led her inside. "Nadine, darling?"
A woman with dark hair and a kind smile looked over from the fire she was cooking over. "Hello, Richard. Ah, so she is the guest, is she? Rhia, was it?"
Rhia nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
"Wonderful! You're in luck; I made too much for just the three of us. Come in, sit down. It will only be a few more minutes. And Richard, wash your hands."
He laughed that same, wonderful laugh that caused Rhia to look over. "Yes ma'am!"
Rhia went and sat down at the small table Casey was already sitting at. At Casey's bright smile, Rhia had to look away, faint blush on her cheeks. Not only was the cheerfulness and kindness a shock from the people of the town, but she also wasn't used to it being directed towards her. It was a little embarassing.
As promised, within a few minutes, the four of them were all sitting at the table around bowls of pea soup. Nadine watched as Rhia tentatively ate from her bowl.
"It isn't poisoned, miss," she said jokingly, smiling at her. "Where is it you're headed, anyway?"
Rhia kept her gaze on the bowl, eating slowly and carefully so as not to fill her stomach, as her magick didn't take kindly to it. "No where specific. Just wandering."
"Well then," Richard said, "where is it you came from?"
She was quiet for a long moment, the couple watching her with mirrored looks of worry. She could tell they were wondering if they'd asked something they shouldn't have. Her eyes drifted shut, then opened again to look over at them, a gentle look in them. "I don't remember."
Again their looks were mirrored, this time looks of shock. Nadine leaned forward some, head tilted to the side. "How long have you been wandering?"
Rhia slowly shook her head, looking down again. "I don't remember."
Richard frowned, but little Casey spoke up before he could. "Are you sick?"
Rhia looked down at her, head shaking again. "No. I just can't remember back that far."
Richard spoke this time, chin settled on his hand. "And just how old are you, then? And none of this 'I don't remember' stuff."
"Honey," Nadine said quietly, hand resting on his arm.
He ignored her, however, eyes narrowing at Rhia. "Humor me, please."
Her mouth opened as she looked over, though quickly looked away. "Far older than anyone you have ever known."
He set his jaw, looking at her skeptically. "You look younger than I am, and you say that?"
Rhia sighed, setting her spoon down and rising to her feet. "It seems my staying here has become too complicated. Thank-you, Miss Nadine, for the wonderful food."
"Now, wait one second!"
Rhia's eyes, now piercing, settled on Richard as he started to get up. He stopped quickly as he stared into those eyes, a chill passing through him. He quickly sat back down, mouth open as he watched Rhia pick up her bag and leave.
"Sh-she...she isn't human.."
Rhia sighed again as she made her way down the street. Now she had to leave the town completely. It was for the best, she considered. It was far too depressing to stay there and watch them anyway. As she began to turn a corner, a scream broke out from the edge of town. Rhia's eyes widened and she reached into her bag as she began to sprint towards the sound. She saw it as soon as she rounded the next corner. The warriors had finally decided to make use of the dwindling resources of the town. She didn't hesitate a moment as she dropped her bag, drawing from it her sword. She wouldn't allow the town to be pillaged while she was still there. She couldn't. Maybe at one time in her life she could have, but now... That man's laugh filled her ears and she charged with all the more resolve at the warriors.
By the time they caught sight of her, it would be too late. Just as Richard had said: she wasn't human. And no human stood a chance against thousands of battles' experience. Within seconds the five men that had made it into the town so far were strewn across the ground, Rhia crouched in the middle of them. The men's blood dripped from her sword, though steam began to rise from the sword. No, not steam; the vapor was red, not white. The blood was evaporating from the blade. Everything was silent as the people gathered at the edge of the square in which the brief battle had taken place.
"What has...what is going on?" It was Richard, now standing among the crowd, Nadine and Casey close to him.
Rhia slowly rose to her feet, grip tight on the hilt of her sword. She slid her foot back and lifted her other hand to the hilt, sword poised before her. She spoke over her shoulder to the crowd. "You should all get away from here. There are more coming. I may not be able to fight them all off. You will survive if you leave this place. There is a river five miles from here. It could provide you life."
Again silence. Just as more warriors could be seen coming through the woods, four men came to stand beside Rhia. Her eyes widened and she stood a bit straighter. "What are you-"
Richard was among them, they all holding their own weapons, though they were mostly farming equipment. "This is our home. We will protect it."
She began to protest, but it was too late for that, as a dozen rather imposing men charged them. Stubborn humans. But, she supposed, at least now they're choosing life. Maybe, just maybe they could survive, if this fighting spirit stayed with them.