Chapter Eight: Foundling
Kendra: Werian's little sister: name means knowledge and understanding, nicknames: Cēne (keen, brave) calls her brother Wērum (earnest promise)
'Home' Werian's word brought Gunther attention once more to the forest around him. To a casual observer the village was all but invisible but as the young squire studied the vale he began to see the village nestled amongst the leafy canopy.
"I see them." Gunther breathed, "I did not before, but now…" In shape and to some degree construction elvin dwellings looked like festival pavilions, round or octagonal with a central pole or other fixture to support the pointed roof which was shaped something like a trumpet flower. But instead of brightly colored striped canvass sent to shelter spectators before the tournament field these structures were made to fade into the background. Some hung suspended in the trees like strange fruit. Others clustered about the trunks almost mushroom like.
"It is amazing how you keep them so hidden." Gunther remarked realizing that though dwellings nestled carefully amongst the branches of the trees surrounding them, most were not actually in the trees; rather each had been constructed on a platform supported by stilts. Bridges connected one platform to the next and stairs or ladders provided access the ground.
"In SwǽtanĒalondstaying out of sight is our best defense against the roving hordes of CāsereInwidsorth and the other warlords if the isle," Werian casually explained. "The structures are fully portable. The entire village can be disassembled and relocated without a trace of our ever having been here. It didn't used to be like that mind you. My people built thriving cities of marble and precious stones but the children of Cain live there now…we are in exile."
From the height of Drake's back Gunther got a close look at several of the dwellings as they drew closer. Despite the temporary nature of the village, there was nothing slap-dash about their design. Each was a splendid marriage of artistry and craftsmanship every surface was decorated with endless knot designs, acanthus leaves, mysterious beasts, and foam crested waves. Gunther had never seen such fine examples of woodcarving and textile work. It was as if the illuminated borders of Sir Theodore's oldest manuscripts and every ledged they depicted had come stunningly to life.
So taken was Gunther by the Elvin homes he missed the first rush of Werian's homecoming; When the dark haired squire did look down from his perch between the black dragon's wings he felt a lump forming in his throat. The young healer barely had time to dismount from his pony before Aunts, cousins, siblings and various other family and friends came pouring from the underbrush clamoring for his attention. 'Wouldn't it be nice to have such caring kin?' Gunther wondered and as sometimes happened between them Drake felt the pang of jealousy in his rider's heart
"These ARE your people too elf-boy." the dragon whispered, "Go say hello."
Gunther caught his breath, the warm flush of yearning extinguished by cold fear and self doubt. "What if they do not like me?" He breathed.
The dragon shrugged his shoulders and Gunther rose and fell with the off-handed motion. "I could always eat them."
The dragon's response made him smile, and smiling made him feel better. He slid casually down Drakes forearm and gazed into his great golden eyes, "Just eat them?" the boy smirked "Is that your answer to everything?"
"You would be surprised how much it simplifies things." The black dragon winked at him and grinned showing his fangs as he did so.
Gunther snorted and shook his head at the playful beast but just knowing Drake was on his side, regardless, made it much easier to turn his back and make his way among the pointy-eared throng.
"Did you bring me anything Wērum?" A petit lass entreated the travel worn elf her bright eyes shining like starlight.
Werian half turned from the tangle of well wishers to grace his littlest sister with the crooked grin that always made her giggle. "We brought many things Cēne mine. Look to the cart and see what catches your fancy." He told her gently before his friends claimed his attention once more.
Kendra did not need to vie for her brother's notice. Werian would make time for her later. He had promised that where ever his path took him he would do all within his power to be there for her no matter what; and so it always had been. She threaded her way back through the crowd to cart and the first thing to catch her eye…was a slightly disheveled, human. The boy yawned and rubbed the sleep out of his eye with one plump little fist. "I like you very much." Kendra informed her new pet and instructed, "Come with me."
"Cēne!" Werian called seeing his sister take the bothersome prince from the cart and having some notion of what she had in mind. She did not seem to hear him. He struggled to disentangle himself from his aunt's earnest embrace.
"Kendra!" he shouted again, this time she did turn the smile on her face was luminous and he was loath to disappoint her, tomorrow I'll tell her the prince wasn't a pet. He promised, He raised his hand and his long fingers flashed her a wordless message to her 'troublesome boy, careful'
She smiled and waved back, leading the hapless prince up to her suite.
Gunther found no difficulty threading his way through the crowd and as soon as Werian noticed him he stretched out a hand to pull him close. "You're just in time." The elvin healer smiled indicating the arrival of another party of elves into the field. Immediately the welcoming throng quieted and stood aside in deference forming a ring with Werian and Gunther at its center.
There were six nobles, silver haired and clad in brightly colored silks. The tallest and most elegant was likely the queen: Though she wore no crown royalty was written in her bearing and expression. She was likely the most beautiful creature Gunther had ever seen. Fine boned with the characteristic high elvin cheekbones and delicately pointed ears. Her skin was like ivory she moved with extreme grace. But it was her eyes that held him riveted. Stormy grey and so deep Gunther got the clear impression not of age but agelessness.
The young squire barely noticed when Werian took several steps toward the riyal party and dropped to one knee. Words of the old tongue flowed like honey from his lips. "Waes hal hlǽfdige mǽre, sele-drēam æt ōþer ælfcynn:" [Be in good health glorious queen, joy to the hall and the elvinKin]
Gunther could not help but recall that Drake had said Ealdhlāfordcynn was a language of power: Drake had been teaching him a bit of the language of the ancient kings, but not enough to understand more than the basics. The words conjured vivid images in his mind but even as he strained toward comprehension the words slipped from his grasp. He got no father than knowing "Waeshal" was a greeting and "Ælfcynn" were elves.
The majestic woman's response was longer and more complex than Werian's had been. As the elegant Elvin queen spoke the liquid tones blended together in a melodious stream of true fluency. Gunther could barely make out where one word ended and the next begun. His mind clung to the few scraps he thought he recognized: "Ferþu hal" Drake had said that was another greeting that translated something like 'health to your spirit.' hāmcyme" was homecoming and "Sigeēadig" seemed to be a combined word made from 'sige' which meant 'victory' and 'ēadig' which was 'blessed' or 'happy'. The young squire was relatively certain the queen was welcoming Werian home and happy to see his quest was successful.
The elvin healer bowed low. Though his fluency did not equal that of the queen, his words were precise and delicately shaped. "Ic Lungre git, cŷdde flyht-brōþor Draca Nihtscūa, Gunnar Bræca, þone þe wæs cændæ BrynWulf," [I Forthwith make known to you the rider (flight-brother) bound to Drake Ebonshade, Gunther Breach, he who was born of Brinwuf.]
Gunther had a bit more luck translating this time as he recognized Drakes formal name and his own in the old tongue, and the term flyht-brōþor made him smile. But it was his mother's name that took the queen by surprise. Her eyes went wide "Eafere …Gunwulf." she gasped and brought her hand to her mouth in undisguised awe. It almost looked as if she were about to swoon.
Concerned, the barest of whispers, Gunther asked Werian, "I-Is she all right?"
The elvin healer smiled gently, "Go to her War-wolf, you are one of us now. She is your godmother."
"She is my what?" the young squire was gaping too now, the shock alone brought him to his feet and he stumbled forward a half a step. Then the beautiful elvin queen bent low and held her arms open to him. "Eafere," she whispered again. Gunther had never heard such raw emotion placed in a single word especially a word that had usually brought such pain: he was awed by the realization that the great forest queen had just called him "Son."
Something in his chest woke within him, unexpectedly making its presence known. The nameless sensation struggled frantically. Before Gunther knew what was happening that something burst forth from walls he built to shield his heart. He did not recall bounding into her arms, but he vaguely registered the tears that streaked his face. His cheeks reddened as he thought of the elvin throng that surrounded them but try as he might he could not restrain himself from snuggling desperately into the grey silk draped across her shoulder.
She smoothed his hair down tenderly and the floodgates of his heart failed utterly. Gunther sobbed he had not since he was a very little child. His chest heaved and he shuddered as emotion sought to consume him. The world spun but he found refuge in the strong arms that sheltered him. Before the last of his tears were spent, Gunther was asleep.
Authors note: I hope you enjoyed this installment of Dawn of the black Dragon. I hope to peruse more angles in this arc at some point I expect Prince Cuthbert's adventures in this other world could likely be a story in of themselves. But so long as the plot bunnies are being divisive I can not work with them. So unfortunately what you see is what you get. please read and review. ~wraith