I apologize for being away for so long. A lot has come up in the past month, including Valentine's Day, so things have been very busy for me. The chapter I wrote got too long, so I thought I owed you guys a double feature. (This is Part 1). Time for more adventures for Dena in Eldan :)
"You okay?" Quen asked.
"No," Dena sighed, sitting up. She had been trying to sleep for nearly an hour and simply couldn't on the hard ground. The fire had gotten lower, so Dena added a few sticks to stir it up. She then scooted over to the trees where Quen sat, her back and rear only reminded of how uncomfortable the ground and tree trunks were as she eased in next to him.
"I can't sleep," she said wearily, drawing her knees up.
"Why not?" the scarecrow asked curiously. Dena sighed and looked tiredly at him.
"I don't normally sleep on the ground, you know. Normally I'm in a bed, with sheets, pillows, and a soft mattress underneath me."
"So how come Tahoe's sleeping just fine?" Quen glanced at the pup. Dena had attempted to snuggle with the puppy, but despite his soft fur and warm body, his company had not helped at all.
"He's a dog," Dena explained, "They can sleep anywhere. Me, I need a bed. Oh God I miss my old bed."
Without even thinking, the girl leaned over and rested her head on Quen's shoulder. The scarecrow watched her, intrigued.
"Why do people sleep, anyway?" he asked. Dena yawned.
"People get tired and have to rest. Next morning, we're like new, had all our batteries charged and such."
"People have batteries?" Quen asked in surprise. Dena burst out laughing.
"No, silly! That's Syrvic's department. It's just an expression."
"You called?" Syrvic asked.
Since he didn't need to sleep any more than Quen did, the robot had decided to go on sentry duty, keeping an eye out for anything coming their way during the night. It had actually creeped Dena out a little to see the robot's single green eye slowly rotating around like a mini-lighthouse. For now it had stopped to focus on her and the scarecrow.
"No," Dena answered quietly, yawning again, "just teaching Quen here about humans. No big." Syrvic stared for a moment, his expression unreadable before shrugging and going back to guard duty.
Dena stared at the campfire, letting her vision become unfocused as she tried letting sleep come to her. She actually felt better leaning on Quen's shoulder than on the trees. When the sleep finally came, the poor girl's head slipped off her friend's shoulder and ended up right in his lap. Quen was startled by this, for he'd been staring cautiously at the fire, hoping it wouldn't get too close. He'd already put up with enough flames for one day. But this he hadn't expected, and it took a sheer force of will for him not to make any noise, for he wanted Dena to get sleep as much as she did.
Quen watched the girl, fascinated. Ever since the scarecrow had met her, she had been the central focus of his world. He was amazed at how brave she was to rescue him from the burning cornfield, curious at some of her strange ways of talking, admiring of her closeness to Tahoe, appreciative of how kind she had been to Syrvic, and greatly moved by her gratitude of earlier that day. Sure, he was confused the day before by her standoffish attitude, but things had changed a great deal. Never in his wildest fantasies did Quen imagine his life would change so much just from one person.
He stroked her long, tangled, dark hair, marveling at how beautiful she was, even in her disheveled state. A number of strange sensations coursed through his straw frame, causing him to stop, especially when she stirred and unconsciously snuggled closer, treating his leg like a pillow. It actually felt a little scary what this strange and fascinating girl was doing to him, and he wondered how he was going to handle it if it kept up for the next few days……
~/~/~/~/~
"…preparations have been coming along without delay, Sorceress," a giant-looking, deep-voiced Wik was saying.
"Thank you, General Okkin," the Black Norn said with a rare show of satisfaction, "you have pleased your Queen." The witch stood on a cliff with Slade and the general, the three of them overlooking a vast valley below. Even in the perpetual darkness, the valley was seething with activity, and many crude fires lit the area in an orange gloom. Training camps and forges were hard at work, seeing to the pounding and refining of troops, armor, and weapons.
As the Black Norn headed back towards her fortress, she asked the general,
"How are the green troops coming along?"
"The Jadeites have become more and more resistant," General Okkin informed her, "they have soldiers watching their settlements now, and more often we must rip their strong and able out of their hiding places before bringing them to be broken in. Some have even interfered with our troop movements in the heartlands."
"That nonsense will stop soon," the Norn growled, annoyed at the news.
"A number of our platoons reported sighting a road of solid gold springing up in areas of Eldan where it was previously unseen," the general added. The witch whirled on him.
"Did they see anyone walking upon it? Did they see that chit that stole my Anklets? Tell me what you know!" she snarled. The general was slightly taken aback, but he showed little for the Norn to see.
"No, my commanders report seeing no one traveling those roads. Even travelers they come across avoid them."
"She's moving faster than I thought," the Black Norn said in a low voice, more to herself than the others. She turned once more to the general.
"I want ten legions by next week, do you hear! Push harder if you have to. I don't care how many slime-skins you have to kidnap, just get it done." She then came closer, her staff taking on a menacing light,
"And if you fail, Okkin, I assure you I will have you replaced." For once she saw fear in the Wik's eyes, and he quickly saluted her.
"Your will is law, Sorceress," he answered. "Good," the witch said. She and Slade left the general to his work and stepped on a stone platform, which immediately teleported both of them back to her fortress in a flash of red light.
"Whether you have ten or twenty legions at your disposal, Sorceress, it won't do any good against—" The Norn slapped Slade hard, her long nails leaving a trail of black blood near his right eye as he fell to the floor.
"You underestimate me, Slade," the Norn said in a low, dangerous voice, saying his name like an insult, "once I have the Ruby Anklets, ten legions are all I'll need." She towered over him, her staff at ready.
"Forgive me, Sorceress," Slade said flatly, wiping some of the blood off his face, "I was merely pointing out—"
"—What?" the Norn demanded, "That you think I won't get the Ruby Anklets in time? Again, you underestimate me, Slade." She stalked off towards some tables, though she grew irritated at the winged gremlins picking at her equipment.
"Get off my table you little worms!" she yelled, blasting the creatures with her flames. The creatures squealed and scattered, some turning into ash under her fiery tirade.
Slade got up off the floor.
"Your tree and fire-dogs did not work Sorceress. It bothers me because your schemes to do away with others usually works. Surely you made it your business to do in this girl so that the Anklets would come into your hands." The Norn snapped her fingers, causing all the items she'd knocked or burned off the table to repair or re-arrange themselves back in order.
"First of all, the fire-dogs were just an amusement, one of which you happened to rob me of." The Black Norn said, arranging some items.
"Again, I beg for your forgiveness, Sorceress," Slade said, though he did not bow like he did with greater infractions. The witch ignored him.
"Sorceress?" Slade said, wondering why she did not answer.
"It's because she had help! That's why!" the witch suddenly burst out, a halo of fire forming around her, her eyes livid. Slade smoothly backed away from the flames, though he was curious.
"From whom?" he asked.
"It appears one of our scientists succeeded with his paltry experiments in robotics before I had him dispatched, so now we've got an automaton running about, acting like the girl's bodyguard!"
"And how do you intend to deal with this?" Slade asked. It was then a very nasty smile appeared on the Norn's terrifyingly beautiful face.
"I won't have to do a thing for now," she said. She unrolled a very old map of Eldan and sprinkled a fine black powder on it. The powder swirled and let out a tiny explosion over the map, revealing a number of glowing gold lines over the land. Slade came over to look, realizing the gold lines were the solid gold road the general had spoken of. The witch pointed at an area to the southwest.
"Last I saw that pathetic thief, she and her little friends were heading straight towards Skerna Forest." Her long nail rested on a blackened blob representing the extent of the now cursed forest.
"Ah, one of your quicker conquests, Sorceress," Slade purred, reminiscing.
"It is amazing how much magic one can dredge from a forest like that," the Norn agreed, enjoying the praise, "and if our little 'friends' survive passing through, I will be most surprised."
~/~/~/~/~
For some reason, Dena felt so much better the next day. She couldn't figure out why, though it might have had something to do with Syrvic finding some berries for her to eat. Or perhaps it was because the day was nice and sunny, with no sign of scary witches or killer trees. As they walked along the Golden Path, the threesome chatted, with Syrvic learning Dena's story as Quen had a few nights before.
However, around midday, Dena was starting to get bored and weary. She looked on ahead, the mirror-like road stretching for what felt like miles.
"God," she murmured, "how long is this road, anyway. You'd think they would put up mile markers for this Jaden Gilda told me about."
"I'm afraid much of Eldan is still very wild, despite what the Mage and the Green Warlock did to unite the kingdoms." Syrvic said.
"The Green Warlock?" Dena asked.
"Yes, he was the ruler of Eldan before the Mage," the robot said, turning his eye towards her, "Everyone in Eldan mourned his death for a year, refusing to wear green of any sort out of respect for him.
"He was greatly loved by the people, or, at least my ancestors. Everyone worried the alliance the kingdoms had would fall apart without a ruler in Jaden. Then rumors circulated about a new warlock that called himself the Great Mage, and legend had it that he came from the heavens to take the Green Warlock's place. He has become a legend in Eldan, though many people still don't know much about him."
"How long ago was this?" the girl asked him.
"About a century ago," Syrvic replied.
"The Mage has been ruling that long?" Dena asked in surprise.
"Of course," the robot said in surprise, "witches and warlocks can live for hundreds of years. Being one yourself I would have thought you knew that."
That made Dena stop dead in her tracks. Quen and Tahoe had been walking along, listening as the girl and the robot talked, though her sudden stop made the scarecrow run into her. The girl failed to notice.
"You mind running that by me again?" Dena demanded, frowning at Syrvic.
"Aren't you a witch?" the robot asked, looking confused, "I merely assumed, since you killed the White Norn and are wearing her Anklets now, that you're a witch too."
"Uh, no," Dena said firmly, "before this monkey business all started, I was just an ordinary American citizen with about as much magic as those guys who pull rabbits out of their hats. And as for what these things are—" she stuck out a foot to show an anklet, "—I have no clue what they do, or how to use them, so I'm not exactly a witch by those facts alone."
"I'm sorry," Syrvic said, though he did cock his head in a peculiar way.
"I've been meaning to ask you, are you royalty?"
Dena's eyes widened.
"Oh no, not that again!" she cried. The girl threw up her hands and stomped away down the path.
"What did I say?" Syrvic asked in surprise, exchanging glances with Quen. The two of them quickly caught up with Dena.
"Well, are you?" the scarecrow asked, though he hadn't a clue why.
"No," the girl answered, not looking at them, "Gilda thought it would be fun. It was so embarrassing."
"But only true royalty have that mark," Syrvic said, pointing at the shiny silver tattoo on Dena's shoulder.
"That would have been cute when I was little," the girl replied, "but as far as the two of you are concerned, I'm a commoner. The Sonchils thought I was sooo great. I felt and still feel like a fake."
"But you're not a fake, Dena," Quen said, stopping her, "you've done so much already that proves you're a hero." Dena looked at him funny,
"Oh yeah, what's that?" she wanted to know.
"You saved me from the cornfield, you faced the tree when you were up in its branches, you didn't give up on me on the cliff, and, uh…"
"You were kind enough to take me along when you didn't have to," Syrvic added with enthusiasm.
"Yeah!" Quen agreed, "And you're not scared of robots or fire. That puts you one up on the two of us." Dena couldn't help but smile.
"Thanks guys, I needed that," she said gratefully.
After a moment the group turned to resume their journey, when Dena saw something that made her jump in fright.
"What the hell is that?!" she cried out, pointing upwards. It looked like a dead bird with a long neck and a limp body hanging from an overhanging branch, its head lodged where the branch split in two like a fork. Syrvic started chuckling.
"Relax, Dena. It's a Hangman Bird. They're ugly, but harmless."
"A Hangman Bird?" the girl repeated dubiously, "How do we know someone didn't put it up there as part of some weird, creepy pagan ritual?"
"I'll show you," the robot replied. He went up to the tree's trunk and shook it, causing the bird to suddenly open its eyes, screech like an angry parrot, and detach itself from the tree before angrily flying away.
"God that thing's ugly," the girl commented with revulsion.
"They appeared soon after Skerna Forest got sick," Syrvic told her as they continued down the Golden Road.
"They don't eat straw, do they?" Quen asked worriedly.
"It's better if you don't know what they eat," the robot said to the scarecrow.
However, as they got back on the road, Dena started getting a very ominous feeling of foreboding as they passed through the area. She couldn't figure out why, but the feeling stayed with her as they walked past more Hangman Birds and various other creepy critters that were now starting to pop up. Around late afternoon, as the group crested a hill, they came upon a sight that made Syrvic stop dead in his tracks.
"Oh no," he said, fear written all over his stainless steel body.
"What's wrong?" Dena asked before looking. For the past few days they had been walking through open woodland, but only a hundred yards ahead, a great wall of dark-looking trees seemed to spring up abruptly, the barrier only opened where the Golden Path cut through it.
"Is that the Skerna Forest you were talking about?" Dena asked. The robot nodded gravely.
"I've been avoiding it for the last five years, and I was hoping we weren't heading there, but now I know we're in trouble."
"Why?" Quen asked.
"Um, well, when I said the forest got sick, I was kinda understating it," Syrvic told them. Tahoe, who had been quiet and well-behaved all this time, huddled against his master's leg and started whining fearfully. Dena immediately picked up the shepherd and held him close, attempting to soothe his fears with stroking.
"Just how sick are we talking?" Dena asked, narrowing her eyes at the robot.
"Well, that tree I rescued us from, a lot of the trees are like that in Skerna. I actually found it strange that one would exist so far from there."
"Don't you remember? The Black Norn created that tree just to kill me," Dena reminded him.
"Oh yeah," the robot agreed, "and I barely made it out alive several times before I lost my job as a lumberjack. I swore I'd never go back in there as long as I lived."
"Look Bilza-bot," Dena said firmly, "Gilda said the only safe way to get to Jaden was to stay on the Golden Path. She warned me that if I strayed, things would go very badly. It also seems like this road doesn't go around the forest, and even if we tried, we'd get lost. So I'm afraid we're gonna have to stick to the plan. Besides, you made that promise when you were human. I don't think it applies to a robot."
"Are you saying I'm not alive?" Syrvic demanded, now getting defensive, "That I'm just some machine that runs for no purpose?"
"No," Dena answered, "In fact you've proven you're better than any old 'machine' I ever used. I'm just saying that when you became a robot, perhaps one life ended and a new one began for you. I used to read about stuff like that all the time."
There was silence for a moment.
"You know, I never thought about that," Syrvic said with revelation.
"Now you know why I want a brain," Quen chimed in suddenly, "I wanta be smart like her." Dena burst out laughing.
"Come on you two, before I say something else that'll have you guys talking."
"Hey, wait a minute!" Syrvic ran up and stopped the girl again.
"What?" she asked irritably.
"There's another reason you don't wanta go in there," he said, gesturing at the dark forest.
"Oh yeah, what's that?"
"Wild animals. They can get really feral in there." The robot warned.
"Let me guess; lions and tigers and bears?" the girl prompted.
At this Syrvic chuckled.
"Those are the least of our worries. Since I left, rumor has gone around saying that there's a monster in there, a beast so terrible that travelers have to go on longer routes just to avoid the forest. Nobody knows what it looks like, but many people go in there and never come out."
"After dealing with the Black Norn, the tree, and fire-dogs, I'm not worried," Dena said. At last, she stubbornly walked on ahead into the forest, forcing her two friends to follow.
Dena kept Tahoe in her arms, fearful that he might wander off. The pup quivered in fear, and the fear became contagious as the group went further in. The trees became dark and twisted, reminding Dena of things like Snow White, and The Two Towers. It made her start to realize that perhaps Syrvic was telling the truth. But what could have happened to him in here that would make him terrified, even now as a robot?
Quen wasn't much better off, fearful of every noise he heard. Dena took pity on him and linked her arm through his, carrying Tahoe in the other. The scarecrow was comforted by this, though he still looked around a lot. She wasn't quite sure what was making Quen a nervous wreck, since there were no fire-dogs to be seen, though she suspected that he still remembered the killer tree from yesterday.
The walk gave Dena time to think over what had happened since she came to Eldan, and each day was now starting to feel like last week to her, since so much was happening. Though it bothered her with something Gilda had said. She claimed the road was safe, and yet so far, Dena had been stalked, nearly eaten, nearly thrown over a cliff, almost burned alive, and now once more the menace felt close at hand. Had the faery lied to her? Or was this road a fraud in magic?
Judging by how long it was, she started getting a feeling it must have been a powerful spell the faery used to activate it. But that still didn't explain why nobody else seemed to be using it, or why those Wiks were not using it in their patrols. After much pondering, Dena then remembered something Gilda had told her.
… As long as you stay on this path, you'll be safe from the Black Norn. Deviate, and you will be in danger…
"That's it!" Dena suddenly said out loud, startling her friends.
"What?" Quen asked.
"I know why we've had so much trouble in the past few days. We haven't been staying on the road!"
"What do you mean?" Syrvic inquired.
"Think about it," the girl told them, "every time we've been attacked, we weren't standing on the Golden Path, were we? We were always off to the side or a ways away. And come to think of it, when the Norn attacked us yesterday, her monster thingy wasn't standing on the road either. In fact, I think the fire-dogs barely used the Golden Path at all unless they had to. Maybe this road is safer than we thought!"
"I knew you'd figure it out!" Quen cried with delight. On impulse, he suddenly wrapped Dena in a tight hug and kissed her on the cheek. Dena was so stunned by this that she dropped Tahoe, the pup squealing in protest. The girl stared, her mouth open in shock at the scarecrow for the show of affection, a million thoughts and emotions flashing through her mind before she had to turn away; hiding the blush that spread from her scalp to her shoulders. Her reaction had surprised both her and Quen, with Syrvic watching to see what would happen next.
"Um, yeah, I did," Dena finally said after a long moment, and she quickly started power-walking, not wanting either Quen or Syrvic to see her expression.
"If we literally stay on the road, I don't think we'll get attacked by anything in the forest. We should only step off it when we absolutely have to, ok?" Quen and Syrvic agreed to this.
However, Quen was also surprised at what he'd done, and confused by Dena's reaction. Had he done something wrong? All he could do was ponder this, because for some reason he didn't feel like pushing Dena.
The group stuck close together as they continued their trek through the wood. The trees wove their branches so tightly overhead that the sun was almost completely blocked out. It was as if twilight had already fallen within the forest, although it was only late afternoon. A series of eerie sounds echoed in the shadows as Dena and her friends walked along, each one making the group glance around to see where they came from…
Whoa, do I smell a budding relationship in the air? I'll let you guys decide, lol. Seems that Dena made the right choice, choosing Quen and Syrvic for friends. It also seems the Black Norn is up to something far worse than originally thought, and it looks like Dena isn't the only one in trouble with her. I wanted to add a little more history to Eldan, though it does bring up a very interesting question: was there anyone there before the Wizard in the original Oz story?
There's a famous rumor from the 1939 Wizard of Oz film that a crewmember on set could be seen hanging themselves in the background during the end of the Tin Man scene. Some even thought it was a munchkin. However, I read up on this and even took a look at the film itself.
The story behind the Hanging Rumor was that the film-makers wanted Oz to look more exotic using tropical birds. However, some of them got loose on the set. In the scene when Dorothy and the scarecrow first find apple trees, you can see a toucan sitting on the branch of the tree the witch is hiding behind. In the scene where Dorothy, the scarecrow, and the Tin Man are singing and heading further into the woods, there's movement up in the trees. It's actually a crane (bird) that's walking around, not a man hanging himself. It's not easy to see because it's brown like the trees, but if you know where to look, it's screamingly obvious.
I didn't actually know about this rumor until I was surfing the web all those years ago, and found some Oz facts on this one website. They even have a screenshot with the crane circled so people will know where to find it while watching the movie. Truth be told, to me it doesn't look at all like a man hanging himself.
And now, onto Part 2 ;) ……