Elves reaching becoming middle aged is seen as a rare sight-hell, elves reaching their twilight years is seen as pretty rare.

Claudine Eaglet is the human equivalent of a 60-year-old woman. The white-haired woman, despite her age, is a Princess. She has a younger (great-great-great) niece who is the acting Queen of the Elven empire, which has had a sudden baby boom in recent years. She's always made it rather clear of her ill contempt for bratty 'younger generations', including her niece, the new Queen. After all, she's her senior in every sense. She should be the one on the throne, dictating policy and upholding their ancient laws. But now, there's been a steady increase of 'dirty Half-Elves' in the empire's walls. Talks and negotiations with their Dwarf neighbors. Even allowing the practice of new forms of magic and not sticking purely to traditional arts! And now they're allowing all forms of religion and not strictly following the 7 Traditional Elven God Pantheon?! Preposterous!

Meanwhile, Ivory Starling is slightly younger, essentially 42 in human years. She's been Claudine's body guard for a number of years and was well trained with the sword. Her sword training never really came in handy, as Elves Warriors were surprisingly nimble and capable of handling their foes long before her Princess was ever in actual danger. Claudine never stopped her strength training, however and the few fights she had spoke for herself. She didn't lose that eye for nothing. But with age did not come wisdom and more often then not talks down to any and all adventures, regardless of their race. 'Rat-Catchers', she calls them, seeing them as only worthy of catching rats.

It was no wonder that when sailing across the sea, a pirate band of raiders when for their ship and overwhelmed them. They didn't harm the crew too badly and even healed them afterwards. They were only after Princess Claudine and her bodyguard, holding them in bondage. These raiders were planning on selling the two Elves as slaves. After all, seeing Elves reach this age is a rarity. They'll get a nice amount of gold coins.

But nothing to worry, right? Claudine is a Princess. Her niece will realize that her and her bodyguard have gone missing and there will be plenty of Elves coming to their rescue. Or maybe a band of Adventures will realize something is amiss and come to their aid. Right?

...R-right?