Tales of Eldelórne Page 20

  Naalin smiled wistfully at the memory of her lost home. "I, too, could feel a yearning for the ocean's edge. It was sad to leave the King's service, though. We had made many friends there.

  We soon found ourselves all the way to the southern waters of Eldelórne."

  "Oh, Roevash and EJ are from there. Did you know Roe is my Eijlam's elder brother," Fi asked, taking a sip from her glass.

  "How big and strange," Naalin said, meaning they were like opposites.

  "Long story, but I am here to listen to yours, so…,” Fionna directed the conversation she almost derailed back to Naalin's ordeal.

  Naalin was deep in thought, trying to recall something. "I had visited this place in my past as a youth, and knew some of the elves as distant kin on my father's side," Naalin said.

  "Life was good in Eldelórne. Living there was the first true peace I had felt since my mother died. We were invited to adopt homes and stay there as long as they wished. But the Eldars wanted to settle on the island just out in the bay. They built a harbor with a few ships and cultivated the beautiful gardens out there."

  "We used ships to cross from bay to island. On one such crossing, I was going on into the mainland to pick up needed supplies from a neighboring human settlement called Belfalast. When I returned, some of the Eldelórne folk were found leaving. They were traveling west to Atto's Landing, to sail away to Ilmatar. Many of the younger ones of our clan heard the Lord's call as well, and wished to go with them. They deserved the right to speak for themselves after the atrocities we had all suffered."

  "We were the youngest of Vehlevar and were not told of any strife the Eldars had endured in their past, but the old ones had vowed never to obey when Lord Untuoni called their hearts to go, because so many ages before, Ilmatar had allowed them to witness their own kin's deaths by elven hands. It was a bad time in our land when elves killed elves unto the true death. It was senseless cruelty," Naalin said sadly.

  Fionna wasn't sure if she meant the kinslaying was senseless, which it was, or the eldars' decision for the clan to stay behind. She soon understood Naalin's meaning as she continued.

  "The Eldars then called an assembly to the garden. Everyone was there, and in turn, our Eldars trapped us all with dark magics. Our whole clan was made to sleep in what would be a garden of stones." Naalin shuddered. "That is the last of my memory until you woke me," she finished telling her story.

  Fionna could only sit and shake her head at the cruelty Naalin was made to witness. She had listened to Roe's war stories many times by the hearth, knowing he had to let his long memories go. As Elvenkin spoke their burdens, the remembrances became less painful in the sharing.

  For some reason, hearing this story from Naalin felt more disturbing to her.

  Naalin felt sorrow for the Eldars of the clan, but she was angry that, ironically, they too killed their kin in this act of magics, thus becoming kinslayers themselves.

  "Maybe they thought a curse of endless sleep was not the same as simply cutting each of our throats with a blade. There is naught to do about what had happened." Naalin shook her head in disgust. "If ever I had one wish to ask of our Lords, I would seek justice for my innocent kin. I alone will walk the shores of Ilmatar... oh, and you…" She looked at Fionna curiously knowing she was somehow related and smiled a sad smile of acknowledgment.

  +++

  Another day had passed since their return from the south, and Fionna was relaying the final parts of the sad tale of Naalin's exodus while sitting by the great hearth in Roe's quarters. Naalin was feeling weak, so she had gone to bed early. She trusted Fi to relate her story to them accurately. Fionna was curled up in her usual chair with Eijlam sitting on the floor in front of her. She played with his hair as she spoke. Roe kept his eyes on the flames, feeling the severe weight of her words.

  "We should leave more often," Eijlam said to break the silence that had grown thick. He guzzled the last drop from his cup and got up to get some more.

  "This is good ale. Apple is it?" Fionna agreed as she took a sip.

  Nobody was expected to answer her. Roe was scowling, caught up in memories of war.

  "The violence of those times made men and elves do evil to each other and themselves. It is tragic," Roe sadly said, thinking about the beautiful faces of the stone elves they had to leave behind.

  "A dragon has come into the Valley," Roe finally said, shaking off the images in his head by changing the subject.

  "We think the beast is being controlled, but by what is uncertain."

  "We fight a dragon then," Eijlam said, trying to mask his enthusiasm.

  "Not just yet," Roe cautioned.

  “Then what is it you need Roe?" Fionna asked.

  "We must first consult a wizard," Roe said, looking at them both. "The wizards we know of are about equal distance from here, and I understand you would like to visit your home Fi?"

  Fionna could see what he was getting at and smiled.

  "Ej, we could make it a fast trip."

  "I agree." EJ smiled at her.

  "Do you think Naalin will be okay? She is still not good at speaking very much," Fi asked.

  "It is my duty as commander here. I will watch over her safety," Roe said in his most obligatory attitude.

  Fionna hadn't seen him act this starched since that day they first met.

  "Try not to be too bossy," Fionna blinked her big doe eyes at him and giggled.

  The big man just sat scowling as he swigged down some ale.

  Unraveled

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  Drustnlach was many weeks away even at a fast pace. Eijlam and Fionna were well matched in stride and stamina. Humans that saw them wondered if they witnessed an apparition of the imagination because the pair moved so quickly out of sight before anyone could even blink an eye.

  The roads were dry, and there were fewer trees when they traveled across the river into the Lunto Plains. Fionna was getting excited, and a little scared as they drew closer. She needn’t have worried because the wizard was there, waiting for her return. Fionna cried out in joy as she ran up the path to greet Master Farghal.

  “Papa, you have grown old!” She was a bit taken aback at the sight of him, but she hugged him and kissed his brow like she always did.

  “Yes, my girl, the magic is going out of the kingdom. Can you not feel it?” Farghal asked as he gave her a light hug. She was shocked at how frail he felt in her embrace.

  “With the loss of the elves, the subtle magics are flowing away as well. Man dominates, and we are but relics of the past,” He muttered as he led them inside.

  He turned and looked at the couple and said, “You are a welcome sight for my old eyes.”

  “We are betrothed,” Fionna told him excitedly.

  “That was unexpected. I am glad to hear it.”

  The old wizard smiled as he noticed the matching gold rings they shared.

  Ej looked like he wanted to ask something but thought better of it. His questions about the origins of the rings could wait.

  “We have come to ask for your wisdom,” he said instead. “There is a dragon that has moved in on us. We think someone controls this monster and fear the worst. Can you help us?”

  Farghal looked like he was debating something in his mind.

  “I have heard rumors. I hoped they were not true. The elves are gone taking with them their power and wisdom, and common men have been driven mad by their own divisiveness. I heard of a religion of sorts. The name for this invention is shadow cult I believe or maybe just cult. They worship the darkness of the Fallen One, old Lord Surmanos himself.”

  “Gods no,” Fionna blurted out her eyes wide in horror.

  “That is right my dear, there is nothing to stop them now that the subtle magics are leaving us,” he repeated himself.

  “The wizards were also called to leave this realm, Fionna... I should not be here.” he stuttered. “I think I must be the only one left who stayed. I stayed behind for your sakes. I am made morta
l. Without the strength of my brother wizard’s bond, I ... I am dying.” He sat down in his old worn chair by the hearth looking exhausted, having said all that.

  Fionna ran to him and fell crying into his lap. “Papa, no!”

  “Eijlam,” he confessed, “I brought you two together for a purpose. There is some part of the song in the great Ilmatar’s plan that includes you in all this my boy. I do not see clearly, exactly what it is though... Fionna, she will help you where I cannot. My days had become numbered.”

  As a once immortal being, Farghal was distressed but also fascinated in feeling this thing called mortality.

  “Tell me everything you know then,” Eijlam calmly said as he watched Fionna in the pain of grief, “it cannot get any worse than this.”

  He solemnly pulled up a chair and sat down by the wizard.

  Farghal wove for them the whole tapestry of their lives both seen and unseen as he knew it. He told them what to find in the house that would help them. He had a recipe book of curatives and a whole cabinet full of salves and poultices he had prepared for them.

  “These work to heal and these repel fire, these let you breathe underwater...” he told them many secrets as he doddered around pointing things out.

  “Show your cloth blanket to Naalin,” he looked kindly into Fionna’s puffy eyes, “she will know what to do with it.”

  Everything Fionna heard with her ears was confused by her misery, and she couldn’t dwell on any of it. She helplessly nodded, promising to show the blanket to Naalin.

  “Take the master staff, Fionna. It is ancient and far more powerful than the one you have. It will keep you safe, for my peace of mind... my beautiful elven girl.” He looked sadly into her eyes, trying to convey his feelings for her.

  Fionna began to understand, these moments with him were his last. In revealing this, he seemed to diminish even further. She could only hug him and cry more tears.

  “...and there are protective runes. Scatter them where you camp to become invisible,” the old wizard told them, pointing to the shelves.

  “Be sure to take all these things with you.”

  Too soon, Farghal was at his end. The old wizard faded in strength until he could speak no more. He had saved up the last of his mortal energy to be there, just for them. They brought him to his bed. Fionna tucked him in and sat mournfully holding his hand.

  “It was always my joy to see the fiery light of your eyes shining in my days ... my beautiful, tangle-haired, elven girl. I am truly blessed to know you, both of you...”

  With those final words, he took his last breath and died.

  It was nearing the hour of sunrise, so Eijlam took Fionna’s hand and led her on a walk down to the riverside as they used to in the old days. Through the garden was the stable where they had once played with Daisy, the little white pony. They found two larger horses in the fence munching on hay.

  “It is good we found them here before we left,” EJ said soberly.

  Fionna stroked the closest one on its shoulder.

  “Do you think we need to make any special arrangements in the capital to... bury papa?” She started to cry again.

  “We will check on it later in the morning,” EJ said softly hugging her to himself.

  The sun rose over the river in beautiful shades of pink and orange. When they went back into the house, Master Farghal’s body had disappeared.

  “I hope some madmen did not take him,” Fionna choked on her words as her mind swirled.

  “I am sure the Lords of Ilmatar came for him. He is one of their own after all,” EJ tried to sound confident.

  The trouble was this whole visit was confusing. EJ had to think on all that he had heard, for any of it to make sense. He was now busy, right now helping Fionna with her grief and he too felt sad at the loss of the old wizard. He had to be the strong one this time.

  “Nothing in the house is touched, so it was not men who came here,” EJ said, after inspecting the place more closely.

  Then Fionna remembered the enchantments on the property that would hide the place if there was some danger.

  “You are right, no one could have come here but us,” she shook her head sadly and began to weep again.

  “There is no hurry, my love. No hurry to leave,” EJ said tenderly to her as he held her in his arms and hugged her warmly.

  “We will consider going back after a night of sleep,” his hand stroked her long hair as he softly spoke, trying to comfort her.

  Fionna felt a little better after Eijlam made them some breakfast. She didn’t think she was hungry but was surprised at how much they both ate. It had been a long hard run to get there, and they hadn’t replenished their energy since they had arrived. Master Farghal was so desperate to talk they had forgotten everything else.

  Finally having time to look around, the two thought the rooms seemed smaller than they remembered. The table under the tree was dry and splintered.

  “Hear the bird song,” EJ said as a flock of tiny birds flew down to the fence and looked at him. They quickly flew up into the tree.

  “I think they remember you, EJ,” Fionna said.

  Fionna liked the sound of their happy chirping. They went into the bathhouse, and this time she let him remove her clothes as they prepared to bathe in the large pool.

  “How silly I was, as a child, when you met me.” She got a distant look on her face remembering those times.

  “You are a wizard, my love. You were not raised as Edhellen.”

  They sat down deep in the water together.

  “I think I would like to try that pipe again,” EJ whispered nostalgically. "You told me it was a wizard ritual. This seems to be one of those times."

  Fionna smiled weakly at him feeling him tickling her leg under the water.

  “That wasn’t your fingers,” she feigned an accusation as she glared at him. Eijlam looked innocent as she lightly splashed water in his face.

  “You know, Fionna,” he spoke soberly, his wet eyelashes blinking as he moved closer, “I miss this home too.”

  He gently splashed at her and smiled. Their eyes narrowed as they moved in for a serious kiss.

  +++

  Fionna and Eijlam sat by the warm, burning hearth. They had taken their time lingering throughout the day and then ate a good evening meal.

  She was packing her pipe as she wistfully said, “It has been so long. How is it, I did not notice the years passing?” She lit it with a tiny burning stick from off the mantle and puffed lightly.

  “You are elven Fionna. Time is different for our kind. It runs even faster for mortals.”

  He was trying to understand it himself as Fionna passed the pipe to him. He looked down at the thing in his hand as if it was going to bite him in the face.

  “We should ask Roe about it. He and Naalin have lived throughout all time. They fought in the wars and were both present at the fullness of the elven kingdoms. I cannot even imagine it,” EJ said while trying not to choke on the leaf smoke he’d just inhaled.

  “It is still a foul thing,” he said to himself, trying in vain not to scowl at the pipe.

  Fionna chuckled at seeing his eyes water. She never smoked except on the rare occasion. Today was her remembrance time at her papa’s hearth. She was thankful EJ was there to share this ritual with her, such as it was, so she did not feel so alone in her grief.

  “We are still like elflings in our knowledge and emotions Fionna, how we manage at all in this realm is a wonder,” he added as he handed her back the smoldering thing.

  “We have had to learn our lessons fast in this life to survive them,” she spoke, feeling the weight of how much had changed since they first met.

  The hearth was cozy that night despite the sadness that permeated their hearts and minds. Hand in hand, they went to find some real rest. None of the beds seemed comfortable or large enough for the two of them, and they didn’t want to sleep in the wizard's bed, so they lay down on the soft grass under the stars and the old tree.
>
  EJ looked at the silhouette of Fionna laying on the cool grass next to him, and this time, he didn’t have to stop himself from lovingly caressing her body.

  She turned over to look at him, and it was as if they were both young again.

  “I am glad you talked me into staying,” Fionna said. “I needed to feel ... grounded. I did not leave here in a good way that first time. I would not want to do that again.”

  Ej leaned over and kissed her gently as he pillowed her head on his arm. They silently watched the stars move through the sky as they fell asleep.

  The next day they loaded the horse packs with the gear and the household items they thought important enough to bring back to Vehlevar. They walked as they led the horses in hand. The journey back to the fort would be six weeks, possibly longer for them at the slower pace.

  “We should ride,” Eijlam finally said after plodding along for a while.

  “The trail takes too long, and we should rest in case of trouble,” he added.

  Of course, he was right. On the fourth day of travel, some bandits tried to rob them.

  “Ugh... I suppose we look like helpless children to them,” Fionna growled, her eyes flashing as she leaped down.

  Before the other bandits even realized she moved from her horse, she had easily severed the closest man’s thick leather weapon belt with her dagger. Fionna glared into his eyes, angrily with clenched teeth as she marked his face lightly with her razor-sharp blade. A thin line of blood ran in droplets down the length of his cheek as the man stood frozen in terror.

  The other bandits instantly took off running for the hills screaming in high pitched wails. The one who’s belt she cut turned and ran with his trousers dragging, sword clanking all the way. They laughed at the sight of his naked backside, trying to outrun the others.