Tales of Eldelórne Read online

"Is there anything we can do," she asked.

  "I am sorry, Fionna. I think she will fade again into true death. I can only give her what small comfort we can afford now."

  Fionna saw the moisture welled up in his eyes as he stared at the fire.

  "I can see now my brother is bound to you, Fionna. He almost perished because you struggled to come back from his realm of healing. I will not let you try this again. I cannot risk losing you both," Roe said quietly but firmly not taking his eyes off the flames in the hearth.

  "I am sorry... so sorry," Fionna broke off after feeling the weight of his words, knowing an apology meant little right now.

  She sat next to them near the fire and held the girl's weak hand for a while. The tiny elven girls' golden brown curly hair was a tangled mess that hung down to her thin shoulders.

  She might have looked like an adolescent at first glance, but after talking to her, Fionna knew she was older than all of them. Fionna could see flashes of sailing ships, ocean breezes, and gardens filled the girl's mind as she slept in the big man's strong arms. She quickly let go of her hand in fear of something terrible happening if she accidentally fell asleep.

  "Can a wizard help?" Fionna thought to herself.

  "This sickness she has looks the same as EJ came back into this realm," she said to Roe as she looked closer at the tiny girl.

  Fionna got up, and peering down into her face, placed her hand on the girl's forehead. Roe looked nervous and ready to pull away.

  "Do not worry, Roe. I had done this many times on your own brother when he was first returned to us."

  Through mental concentration, she worked to revive the girl with the same magics the wizard had taught her. She was relieved when she didn’t blunder, and the spell worked.

  "That would be just my luck," she thought to herself.

  The girl's eyes fluttered open.

  "Hello, what is your name?" Fionna said calmly in the girl's language, knowing she didn't have much time.

  "I feel not well," the girl whispered, barely moving her lips.

  "You have just come back. It is expected. Will you stay with me?"

  "Are you the one ... you held my hand out of the cursed sleep?" She struggled to see Fionna better, but her eyes were still clouded over like ice.

  "Yes, I am your kin. Will you stay with me?" Fionna asked firmly, needing to hear answers.

  "Th - thank you... I am Naalin. I will try."

  "Then sleep, for now, Naalin."

  Fionna moved her hand over the tiny elf girl's face, and her eyes shuddered closed into a controlled sleep.

  "Her name is Naalin. She is trying to stay with us, Roe. We must keep her warm and wait until EJ can travel in the morning, and then we will bring her to the wizard Sibelast to see if there is something he can do to strengthen her. To ensure her survival. That is all we can do."

  "I will carry her," Roe said, grateful for some hope to hold onto for the elven girl's sake.

  "Peace then, Roe, we will go in the morning." Fionna got a blanket and wrapped it around them both in the big chair.

  "Till morning then," she whispered as she hugged them and kissed Roe on his worried brow.

  Fionna went back to Eijlam in the other room. She felt the weight of this day hit her like a rock slide. She crawled in next to EJ and fell into a fitful sleep.

  +++

  "I have to learn to control myself. I am so thoughtless," Fionna said out loud and to herself for what seemed like the fourteen-hundredth time. They were running at a fast pace to the wizard's cabin. He was the closest to where they had been staying, so they knew he was the only logical choice.

  Ej could see what Fionna was doing and slowed his pace to speak, "You must stop being so hard on yourself."

  "I dragged you both into danger. This is not funny. I will be the death of my loved ones if I cannot learn to use my mind and think first... Roe would have found himself alone, desolate again!"

  The thought of the pain she saw on his face the night before broke her heart, and she began to cry.

  Eijlam reached out and grabbed her by the hand, "Fionna, you are the youngest of us. If there is a fault to be found, it is in us, for listening to you. We let our hearts lead us because it was the right thing. We knew the risk."

  Fionna looked into his sincere face. It did not ease her sadness.

  Ej winked and smiled his bright smile at her. She was so struck, she couldn't say anything for a moment and almost stopped moving.

  "How do you do that?" She cringed at him, still angry with herself.

  "Hurry, or I will have to carry you," he teased her. They took off running even faster to catch up with Roe who was getting way too far ahead.

  Roevash was carrying Naalin cradled loosely in his arms so she would not feel the jarring pace as they ran. Her face was gray, but she moaned, and moved her arms now and then. Roe thought he felt her snuggle closer. It was a good sign of life. He was hopeful for her sake; it was true. They finally arrived on the edge of the forest by half a days run.

  "Do you remember the way?" Roe half-shouted catching his breath. The forest all looked different from the last time they were through there.

  "We climbed up. Let me try that again," Fi said in a determined voice.

  Ej boosted Fionna up into the closest tree. She quickly climbed to the top. She was sure the wizard's house was east, but there were no lights to see in the daylight, so she was guessing.

  "I am feeling a strange longing," Roe confided to his brother. "I have been gone too long from the fort."

  "I agree. It has been too many weeks. We had been lulled into a kind of idleness. I suspect our mother's home is somehow infected by the island's curse," EJ looked unhappy as he said it.

  "Humph!" Roe scowled as he realized EJ was probably right. His mind did feel clearer the farther away from Eldelórne they ran!

  "This is not the way," Fionna blurted out having realized they went too far into the Autumwood forest. "I remember there was a pond, a small river, and a clearing. This path is not it," she said, feeling frightened for the lack of time when realizing they might be lost. All they could see is trees and more trees! Panic began to rise in her chest. She shook her head, trying to clear the strange feelings creeping into her mind.

  "Look here," Roe said, rubbing his foot across the ground, "...a path. This is the hidden elven trail. We must stay on it. Otherwise, the magics in this forest will make you lose your wits."

  Eijlam firmly entwined their fingers together as he pulled Fionna over to himself. He could see she was not well.

  "We must move quickly then," he said, keeping a good grip on her hand. "Where do we go then, brother?"

  Roe turned to him with a serious look and said, "We go to the kingdom of the Eldar seer… King Ellinduil."

  +++

  When Eijlam's party entered the woods that evening, they stumbled upon the wizard's home; they were being watched. King Ellinduil saw them through a large glowing orb.

  On this day, the eve of starlight and memories, he came into his full power and covered the land with deception so Thendiel's sons would have to find their way to his palace. He had refused to leave when the migration of the Edhellen had reached an end. Even when his son and daughter finally went to join the last ships that sailed to Ilmatar, he stayed behind.

  It was the start of the fourth age back then, and he too had felt the yearning of Ilmatar song. Like waves crashing into a stone cliff, he weathered the pain. Through many long ages, Ellinduil had seen with his own eyes many wars and the corruption of men, dwarves, and Edhellen alike. He grew tired of this place, but in his resolution, he sat waiting.

  "The mother of these young ones honors all of the creation, giving into this realm a son most high. I will not leave here for the sake of him and his beloved mother."

  And so it was, the king refused to go. He sat guarding his hidden kingdom and waited, as he knew, in his wisdom, this day would come.

  +++

  Roevash, Eijlam, and Fionna
walked for what seemed like hours. They had almost lost the trail several times, but Roe's tracking kept them on the path. It was getting dangerously dark in the forest.

  They finally came to an abandoned ivory-colored bridge that spanned across a rough field. It was almost hidden with all the vines that had covered it. Trees had broken through its sides, sundering the stone into pieces. They followed the thin path that led them to a gate that looked greenish-gray in the evening darkness. It stood, split up the middle into two huge ornate, heavy doors that had no visible keyholes or handles to open it. Roe pounded on the door. It echoed hollow and desolate beneath his fist.

  "I am sure they all left for Ilmatar long ago," EJ whispered tiredly.

  He, too, felt the disorienting effect of the forest creeping in on him. Fionna wandered away towards the bridge rail to lean on it and wait while the guys sorted this out.

  "The king owes us help, and I know now he is here," Roevash said with certainty.

  "He is not home, Rooooe," EJ whined.

  "His door would not be seen if he was not here, EJ. He was not a king like the others. He was always hidden from the realm, even to the elves, unless he allowed it."

  "Then why does his forest defenses poison us if he wants us here? Everyone left or died, and someone forgot to turn it off," EJ accidentally swung at Roe as he stumbled sideways, catching his balance.

  "Hey, could you try to knock again, or yell ... or some… thing," Fionna weakly pleaded, not quite sure what she was thinking anymore.

  The guys just stood there, arguing. They looked like they would soon come to blows if she didn't do something. Roe might even drop the girl in their addled frenzy. Fionna made a fist and held it up in front of her eyes so she wouldn't lose track of it. With great effort, she staggered forward to pound on the gate.

  "Hey, you in there, greetings to anyone ... is anyone home!" Her words slurred as she ran the last few steps with her fist, ready to crash the door down.

  To her surprise, the gate slowly opened with a grinding creak to her light push. Fionna lurched back, eyes bugged wide, because there in the opening, stood the king.

  King Of Autumwood

  Chapter Twenty Six

  “Mê dh’evennin young ones,” King Ellinduil spoke with a stiff, precise, dignified greeting. He stared at them with an odd expression. He could see they were suffering the effects of the forest defenses.

  “Greetings, good father,” Eijlam said as a title of respect. He had quickly turned around to address the King and almost flung himself down off his feet.

  “My heart sings with joy that you remain with us,” EJ continued his formal greeting, trying not to wobble as he bowed.

  Roe lightly knocked into his brother, as he pushed past him, nodding to the King as a soldier would. He was eager to get them all inside, away from the poisoning air.

  “Your beautiful mother has taught you, well son of Lourien,” King Ellinduil replied, also bowing ever so slightly, graciously ignoring their elbowing of each other.

  “Please... enter,” he beckoned them into the palace.

  The gates slowly creaked closed behind them. They heard the heavy metal locking bar sliding into place. It latched shut with a loud echoing clunk as they walked forward into the dim light. Thankfully, the ill effects of the forest outside quickly dissipated, as they followed the King deeper into his realm.

  Mallorn and beech spiraled to the highest heights twisting into living architecture for the elves that had once lived here. The palace was dark and desolate except for a bright light in the opening ahead.

  They finally came to the sizable reception hall, where the sovereign spent all of his time. A dark green throne that looked like intricately twisted vines sat at the end of the room. Large flat bones of extinct animals, long past, adorned the top edges of it, giving an air of primordial majesty to the sovereign who would sit there.

  A great dining table, dotted with candles, was ready for a celebration. Many colored flowering vines flowed across the edges of the room in the dim eerie light.

  “You have one who needs healing,” the King looked at Roevash expectantly with his startling silver-gray eyes. Roe stepped forward and laid Naalin on a quilted bench.

  “Who placed this magic on her?” the King asked, looking right at Fionna.

  “It made her hold together. My papa taught me,” she said boldly and then backed down under his cold stare.

  “A wizard’s trick,” he remarked, glaring as though it was distasteful. He sighed as he turned his attention to Naalin.

  “We can help this poor bird.” he studied the girl. “Oh, but we can not.” He looked at EJ as if sharing some secret.

  “You are heart bound.” His attention entirely focused on Eijlam.

  “You know that is how your mother and I met so long ago. It is a gift and a curse, my son,” he added as he strangely held EJ’s face in both his hands and looked thoroughly onto him.

  “You are so like her...” he continued to stare almost intimately, lingering a moment too long in his observations.

  Roevash was starting to feel uneasy, wishing he had not led them to this place.

  “I called you here.” Ellinduil released EJ and looked over at Roe as if he had read his thoughts.

  “This one, young Naalin, would not survive much longer, and the wizard can not help you in this,” the King said, waving his hand towards the unconscious one on the bench.

  Looking rather indignant, he knelt down and turned his attention to her. He hovered over the small pale elf-girl who lay silent. He seemed to be listening for something for the longest time.

  Fionna heard a strange sighing noise as she witnessed the elegant magic of the Edhellen. The King breathed some of his own life into her.

  Within moments Naalin’s eyes opened, and she spoke, “Aren vell ci fêl.” Recognizing him, she thanked her King. “It is good to see you again,” she smiled.

  “Odulen an dhe meriad,” Ellinduil whispered near to her face assuring her that he was always there to help.

  Naalin slowly sat up, weak and limp. Roevash stepped forward to help steady her by her thin shoulders. Ellinduil stood up and quickly brought forth his own golden cup that was sitting near the throne, and he held it to her lips. She thirstily drank the sweet honey wine.

  “This will stay you for the moment,” he warmly said to Naalin. He turned to the others, “She is hungry. Go quickly and bring food and clear water.” Ellinduil kept his eyes on Naalin as he pointed towards a stairwell that led down into the dark.

  Fionna went immediately to the top of the stairs. Tiny lights came to life, leading her down into the lower room. She ran knowing all too well the starvation that followed hibernation sickness. The larder was full of cheeses, fruits, freshwater, and wine. It all smelled so wonderful Fionna started to feel starved herself. But Naalin was the one they focused on now. She made up a tray of foods and hurried up the steps. They all watched as Naalin ate and drank ravenously. When the King felt satisfied that she was going to survive, he released Naalin into their care again.

  Ellinduil moved to sit down at the grand table, everyone gathered around. They were all hungry as the stress of the last few days caught up to them. Roevash tried to relax a little bit after deciding the odd King was honest in his intentions.

  Seeing a lack of any servants, Roe and Fionna took turns running down into the larder. Each time they entered, they found different foods of every kind. This time, there were hard-boiled eggs, cooked vegetables, pies baked with apples, and pumpkins in them. All sorts of fruits appeared, red cherries, bowls of strawberries, sliced melon, and dark purple plums. The next time the larder was filled with all manner of roasted meats and dense pudding cakes. Nectar, wine, and ale never ran dry. Roe looked at Fionna in wonder at this kind of magics. She just shrugged her shoulders, having not seen this before either.

  “You had been gone from this realm for some time,” King Ellinduil said to Eijlam.

  “I wonder what this shiny new life will
require of you before it is done?” He cocked his head to the side and stared at Eijlam strangely, or maybe it was a sadness EJ saw as the King picked up a ripe purple plum and slowly bit into it. His dark brows and eyelashes accentuated his silvery blond hair and pale eyes. Suddenly his handsome face was solemn with a look of concern as he intimately regarded Eijlam again.

  “Remember me when your clan is in need my son. I will always hear your call.”

  Ej could only politely say, thank you, feeling the King’s eyes unnaturally lingering on him again.

  “You called me, son of Lourien. Is that my father’s name,” EJ asked boldly trying to break the King’s stare.

  Ellinduil gave him a nod.

  “Your mother did not know.” He picked up some bread and busied himself with eating. “Nor did I until much later. I suppose your village thought I was your sire.”

  This time Eijlam nodded.

  “I am sorry they were not kind,” Ellinduil said.

  Ej looked up startled. He was going to ask how he knew but then remembered Roe said he was a seer.

  “Your wisdom has no bounds father,” EJ said softly.

  “But this is supposed to be a joyous occasion,” the King announced as he stood up and held his goblet high. He entertained them with stories of the days past. Soon all their troubles fell away as the company ate and drank at the sovereign’s banquet until they were all satisfied.

  Naalin didn’t speak much at all. She was so compelled to eat everything she could jam into her face. She stopped only when the King was looking directly at her, in an effort to be polite. Twice Fionna had to pat her frail back to stop her from choking. The light in the upper canopy of the palace glowed golden as the night turned into the next day.

  “Our celebration is complete ... for now.” King Ellinduil looked over at Eijlam and graciously nodded in an elegant bow as he signaled the end of their time together.

  “Thank you all,” King Ellinduil placed his hand on his heart and bowed his head sadly, “for gracing my halls this Yavanni Elenea celebration. It was starlight and memory.” He turned, and they all stood up politely, wondering what was to come next.