R.J. and the Seed War
CHAPTER 2
Upon entering the tree home, R.J. and Phillip saw a bed that was perfectly made and no one was home.
"Perhaps this is the home of an imp of spring," suggested R.J. "If you remember how I said one of the trees bloomed and lost its leaves moments later, I would imagine they are out and about trying to make things grow."
"You could be right about that, but let's make sure," Phillip looked at the bookshelf and studied what was on it, "Hmm, I see one book about the warm colour palette, another here about clove and nutmeg, and here's a half-full bottle of pumpkin juice. No R.J., I was right. This is an autumn elf's home."
"Why would an autumn elf be outside its home when it hasn't been spring for more than two weeks?" wondered R.J.
"I have a gut feeling that might have something to do with the trees losing their leaves," replied Phillip, "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark."
"What is that supposed to mean?" asked R.J.
"Shakespeare R.J., it's a quote from Hamlet," said Phillip, "It's also a figure of speech which suggests that something very bad is happening."
"Like what?" asked R.J.
All of a sudden, the door to the tree house slammed shut, catching R.J. and Phillip's attention. They then heard the sound of a bell and before their eyes an autumn elf appeared before them.
"I'll tell you what's bad," said the elf, "You two are spies for the imps of spring, and I'm going to have you arrested by the elf police!"
"What do you mean spies for the imps of spring?" asked Phillip.
"You have to be mistaken," said R.J. "We didn't know this house was here, though I admit we were looking for it."
"Why do you expect me to trust you?" asked the elf, "You came in here to discover our plan to get the sassafras seeds back from those imps, didn't you?"
"Sassafras seeds?" wondered R.J., "But if you are autumn elves, isn't it your job to kill plants for winter instead of grow them?"
"We don't kill plants, we only put them to sleep so their seeds can survive the winter," said the elf, "and sassafras is used with cinnamon to dry flora down to size so that the plant can return to the ground and provide nutrients for the next growing season."
"Why did the imps of spring take your sassafras seeds away?" asked Phillip.
"It's all part of an unjust punishment. A few years ago some of the seeds spilled away from our secret garden and grew enough sassafras to choke the surrounding indigenous plant life, and in spite of our efforts to correct our mistake, all the imps care about is how to stop it from happening again so they raided our garden and took our seeds away."
"And if you can't grow sassafras, you can't use it," said R.J. "But I'm curious as to why the leaves outside are turning brown instead of staying on the trees like they are supposed at this time of year. Are you the ones doing that?"
"And we will continue to do that until the imps of spring give us the seeds back, otherwise Nutwood doesn't get springtime," said the elf.
"But you have to let things grow or otherwise the animals won't have food," said R.J., "And I don't understand why you would waste your resources in the name of retrieving them."
"We don't have to waste our resources that much," said the elf, "Our king has formed an alliance with the water sprites who have installed a network of straw traps made for the purpose of stopping the roots from absorbing the rain."
"That explains why everything remained dry after our rain showers," said Phillip, "But my friend is right, you can't do this to Nutwood. It's not right for us all to suffer because of your conflict."
"Maybe you should tell the imps of spring that, they are the ones who committed the act of war," said the elf.
R.J. scratched his head, "But if you fixed the problem that caused all this, why would they be fighting against you? Somehow, I don't think I'm hearing the whole story."
"I knew it, you're not on my side!" said the elf as he blew a whistle. Suddenly, a whole legion of elf police made their appearance and surrounded R.J. and Phillip.
"Under the elf charter of law, you two are under arrest for conspiracy against the autumn elves, and will stand before King Hugo in his court," said a tough female elf as two other elves tied rope around the wrists of R.J. and Phillip. The elf who owned the tree house then lifted up his bed revealing a secret staircase that the elf police led the two of them down.
The staircase led R.J. and Phillip down to a secret underground railroad. As they were boarded onto a prison car, R.J. grew curious of where they were going.
"Where they are taking us Phillip?" he asked.
The train began to move and Phillip lowered his head, "We are about to face the king of the autumn elves, and I have a bad feeling that we are going to be guilty by looks alone."
"What are you talking about?" asked R.J.
Phillip explained, "Many years ago, my granddad and his brother found a bell owned by an elf named Hugo and rang it, causing them both to become invisible. It was hard enough to have to make them visible again, and that wasn't before all the trouble they caused the elf that lost his bell. From what it sounds like, that same elf is now the king, and I cannot help but wonder how he will react when he sees me."
"Phillip, that happened long before you were born," said R.J. "I cannot see the reason why the king would hold you responsible for something that Freddy and Ferdy did, and you behave nothing like them. Besides, we can't be positive that the king is the same Hugo your granddad met."
"These elves certainly don't trust us now," said Phillip.
"That's because they are consumed by anger for the imps of spring," said R.J. "but as long as we honestly explain to the king that we mean no harm, I'm sure he will understand."
After some time passed, the train emerged outside into a hidden valley and made its way toward a rock dwelling that functioned as the king's palace where it stopped. Four of the king's guards came into the prison car and grabbed R.J. and Phillip. They were led to the royal court, which was covered in autumn colours.
"This is quite an interesting palace, it's very earthy in a way," said R.J.
"Nature sprites are never the most fanciful beings, normally they prefer to embrace their part in nature," said Phillip, "And what I mean by normally is that something is not presently correct."
"Don't take this hard Phillip, I'm certain we will get to the bottom of this, and hopefully before class on Monday," said R.J.
Soon enough the two of them were in front of King Hugo, who raised his eyebrow at who he was faced with. "Sire, these two were found meddling around the home of one of our elves in Nutwood Forest, we suspect them to be spies for the imps of spring."
"Meddling you say?" said Hugo, "Well it wouldn't surprise me that the one with the letter P on his sweater was a meddler, but this young bear here seems quite trustworthy. Though you couldn't be who I think you are."
"Well, if you wish to know my name your majesty, it is R.J. Bruin."
"R.J.? That's not what I expected you to say," asked Hugo.
"Well, yes, that is my name, the initials stand for Rupert Jacob."
"RUPERT! I knew something was familiar about you!" said Hugo, "It's been quite a long time."
"I can only assume you know my granddad?" asked R.J.
"He once helped me retrieve a bell from a couple of twin fox boys that look just like that one next to you," said Hugo.
"Phillip? Well just so you know he is my friend," said R.J.
"Friend?" asked Hugo who looked at Phillip, "What kind of foolishness is he forcing into you?"
"King Hugo, I can assure you that we did not mean any harm when we were inside that elf's home," said Phillip, "All we wanted was to figure out the reason why the leaves were not growing on the trees. And it's our understanding that you and the imps of spring are at war."
"Well, if your bear friend is anything like Rupert before him then perhaps I should believe everything that you say, I think," said Hugo.
"Look your majesty, I cannot help that I am a member of the Fox family," said Phillip, "R.J. and I are only concerned with what it's going to take for you and the imps of spring to reach a truce. Somehow we are not too sure that this ordeal is entirely about sassafras."
"Of course it's about sassafras, I don't suppose I need to explain why we need it for our work," said Hugo.
"Well actually, the owner of that home we were in already explained it to us," said R.J.
"Then I'm sure you are well aware of why we are awake at this time of year," said Hugo, "if we can't grow sassafras then there won't be enough of a supply for Nutwood to have an autumn."
"But how can there be an autumn if the trees don't sprout their leaves in the first place?" asked R.J.
"What do you mean the leaves are not sprouting?" wondered Hugo, "just because we have a conflict with the imps doesn't mean we are letting Nutwood go without spring. We understand full well that plants are also food."
Phillip sensed a red herring, "Well if that's true, why then are some of your elves stopping trees from keeping their leaves like they should?" He pulled out one of the freshly dead leaves from his pocket.
"That's impossible," said Hugo, "We would never use our part of nature as an act of retaliation, especially with short supply."
"Then I think it's safe to say that some of your people have gone rogue over the whole ordeal," said R.J.
"I'm afraid you could be right R.J." said Hugo, "I for one am well aware that we autumn elves are not always the most sensible. With that said I will have to deal with the ones who had you arrested. In the meantime, I will see to it that you are set free, as I believe neither of you mean any harm to us."
"There are two other things I want to know your majesty," said Phillip, "If you have made the effort to repair damage to the surrounding wildlife, why would the imps of spring still take your sassafras seeds away? And secondly, if you claim that you are not behind the prevention of spring, why then did we learn that the water sprites are drawing the rain away from the tree roots as part of an alliance?"
"An alliance with the water sprites?" wondered Hugo, "I didn't order that at all!"
"Are you certain about that?" asked Phillip sternly, "You know sire, I may look like a descendent of Reynard but you are the one I have a hard time trusting!"
"Phillip, go easy on him. Maybe some of this has come to a surprise," said R.J. "Besides, this is a member of royalty you are talking to."
"R.J. your friend Phillip cannot be blamed for how he feels, especially since your presence here is due to a misunderstanding," said Hugo, "But to answer his other question, I'm afraid it's all part of a deeper failure of mine to have good relations with their king."
"Why is that?" asked R.J.
"I don't know, he always gets upset over small problems," said Hugo, "Everything that goes wrong is always looked upon as a big deal."
"Haven't you ever just tried talking things over?" asked R.J.
"That's what I do, but doesn't always do any good," said Hugo.
"But if it's a matter of making springtime happen, then you have to work things out with him, not only so you can have your sassafras seeds back, but also so that the elves involved in stopping spring can be put to rest," said R.J.
"You're right, this madness has to stop," said Hugo, "but I don't know what I am supposed to say that will convince him."
Phillip had an idea, "Your majesty, perhaps it would be possible that R.J. and I talk to the imp king for you. Maybe if he hears the position of citizens from Nutwood, he would be willing to negotiate a solution."
"It's going to be difficult to convince him at this rate," said Hugo, "The imps are probably frustrated enough by the rogue elves, and they may not be willing to trust you."
"I have to agree with the king Phillip," said R.J. "This is not looking like an easily resolved situation, and I personally think it would be wiser for us not to become involved in something like this."
"Tell me R.J., do you want to see springtime happen or not?" asked Phillip, "If you have forgotten I have been in these things before, and I know that you want something done, you must be determined to take a risk."
"You mean like with your adventure with King Neptune?" wondered R.J. "I thought you were just putting me on."
"But you cannot see this the same way, can you?" replied Phillip.
R.J. thought about it, "Well, I suppose you have a good point, but if we have to discuss this matter with the imp king, we had better make sure that he understands that we are working in the best interests of everyone. Now where exactly does the imp king live?"
"Here, this map will lead you in his direction," said Hugo as he handed it to R.J., "I will also have the train take you to the secret rock entrance so that you won't have to go through another elf's home."
"Thank you King Hugo," said R.J. The guards led R.J. and Phillip back to the train for their departure from the valley.
