Chapter 9 Reviews:
BMValkyrie – I thought that chapter 8 might be a little too short, but in the end I decided all of that description might make it a very tedious chapter for some – I like detail, but I know not everyone does. Ah well – like you said, a small point. Please stick around for the next few chapters – you're about to find out more of Morëkotu's vivid history!
~Chapter 10~
Gorogis pressed his right shoulder against the wall next to what appeared to be a window to the outside world, with boulders and rocks surrounding it and making the window smaller than it could be. He fumbled for a key in his hand, and took out a strange dark brown talisman that was flecked with beige along its edges. It was in the form of a kestrel, its wings spread apart as far as they would go. He pushed it into a hole in the rocks that was exactly the same shape, and pressed down on it hard, turning it as he did so. A mechanism clicked, and the rocks fell apart from one another and tumbled in and outside of the exit. The key fell out of the rock that he had put it into, and Gorogis picked it up.
"The magma – it's on this level!" Boleru told him, and as Gorogis pushed the boulders out of the way, he turned and saw a whole tide of magma rush towards him. His eyes widened in shock, and instinct took over as he ran out of the volcano, round the corner and along the rocky ledge. The lava gushed forwards and continued to flow – some of it towards him. But a great weight had been lifted from Gorogis since he had escaped Canmidris. It was then that the volcano erupted, letting its full force be felt and its presence known throughout the land. The sound was deafening. Ash rained down on them, and the air was full of poisonous fumes that caused all three men to choke. Gorogis pulled the fabric of Link's top up over the boy's nose – it would at least prevent him from breathing in a lot of the ash. He shielded Link from the hot debris from the volcano by cradling him in his arms and stooping over him as he ran. Gorogis and Boleru would have to choke on the fumes until they could find a way to stop themselves from breathing in them in.
Boleru followed Gorogis around and down the mountain – avoiding the demon guards as they went – until at last they reached the bottom and found the other gorons there, weapons ready to fight any demons that came close. Some of them had found Link's horse and had brought it here, holding the reins so that she could not wander off. She didn't look at all pleased about it. When some of the gorons saw Gorogis they gasped and gaped – they had thought that the spell would never be broken, and that their leader was lost! And when they saw Boleru – they could not believe it! This land had a fairy yet! Though they had lost their home and most of their belongings, the goron people's hearts leapt with a new hope at the sight of this fairy and their chieftain. Perhaps Morëkotu could be taken back from the demon's grip after all. Libris stepped forwards and opened his mouth to apologise to Gorogis for leaving him behind, but Gorogis knew what he was about to say and silenced him by raising his hand.
"I understand why you left me – I was nothing but a stone statue, and if you had tried to carry me down the mountain, I would have hindered your progress. No doubt you would have been taken by the demons and killed. I have no anger towards any of you for leaving me behind." Gorogis knew that if he had been one of those fleeing from the mountain, he would have left his leader behind. Gorogis looked at the boy in his arms. "Link saved my life, and it seems that he has brought a fairy back to the land," he said, taking in the fairy and realising what its presence meant for the first time. "We can expect great things from this hero, but right now he needs help – we all need help." Canmidris erupted again, its angry growl rolling across the lands and into the distance. Gorogis put Link's unconscious form on the back of Epona and took her reins himself. He turned back to his followers. "It is time that we paid a visit to our allies, the wild-men."
*
Link awoke and found himself back in the underground cavern of the wild-men. Or had he been there the whole time? There was no sight or sound of the fairy named Boleru, and from what he had remembered, he was in the Canmidris Volcano. It had most probably all been a dream. As he started to rise, a painful blow on the back of his head told him it was not so, and when he heard a joyful cry and saw the fairy come dancing down the passageway towards him, Link knew for a fact that everything he thought had happened really was reality. But how did he get back here?
"Link! You're awake!" Boleru said, buzzing about excitedly. "You saved Chief Gorogis! And now the gorons still have their leader!" Chief Gorogis must have rescued him, and they had abandoned the mountainside to go to the safety of the wild-men's caves. "Oh! They – the gorons that is – are setting up their things on the other side of the cave. You have been moved to a more quiet area to help your rest." Link looked around him: the lights on the walls were dim, but he could see that he was lying on a green palette filled with straw, whilst he was covered with a dark blue blanket. His boots, weapons and other belongings were by his side. "I'll show you the way back if you like, and then you can go to the leaders' meeting. Did I tell you about that?" Boleru asked. Link would like to go to see Gorogis and Packard and the other wild-men who led the base, but first there was one question that he had been meaning to ask Boleru, but in the rush to save the goron chief, he had not had the time to speak it and listen to the answer.
"Boleru," he began, "who are Lady Cathela and Merrowin?" Boleru settled on the palette next to Link, and began the tale.
"When Kealathen killed Queen Irishati, we faries went into great distress and disorder. Some went into hiding, some were killed by Kealathen's demons, and some – like the queen – were killed by Kealathen himself. Others helped in the resistance by spying on the demons and doing anything they could. But most... most fled. They fled to the land of Harakow in the south west, and they did not return. Until fifteen years ago," he muttered. "It was a surprise to see the fairies of Harakow - that land had a fairy king and thus had a ruler to give order, whereas ours never recovered from the loss of our queen. We never wanted to replace her you see - she was the greatest that we had ever had, and no future queen or king would be able to compare to her legacy. They returned because there was great unrest in that land and the humans in Harakow called upon their allies in Morëkotu to go and save them. Apparently, a pestilence had come upon the land; nothing would grow, the people were sick and as a result the peasants were rebelling against the ruler. A company were sent out to see what could be done. They took with them food and medicines. I do not know much of what happened after this, but Sir Jerusinus and Jorose – one of the wild-men that I believe you have already met – were part of the company. There was no word for two years, but then the company returned, and with them a boy no older than fourteen. This boy was Merrowin." Boleru hesitated. "I know no more, only that before Fuorresh sprung from the Shield of Irishati, Lady Cathela and Merrowin fell in love and Merrowin returned to his land for a while... and that Lady Cathela was the daughter of one of King Berelorn's courtiers. Ask Jorose; perhaps he can fill in the gaps."
~End of Chapter 10~