CHAPTER 28: THE BOOK OF PROPHECY
Just beyond the Elvan Wood there is a place where a river runs hungrily. Standing on the shore one can hear its belly bubbling- the water roars and crashes about. When the breeze moves one can even feel how cold it is; all most arctic compared to the springtime of the elves. One though cannot see the other shoreline. It is a place in shadow, hidden from the sight of good-doers and faithful Underground servants. It is a crossing place. It is the start of the Outer Darkness.
Both elves and goblins keep a diligent watch over this river. Any one who crosses and touches shore on the opposite side is never allowed to return. It is one of the few things that elves and goblins will do in unison without complaint- protecting, guarding, and reporting. Both understand the balance in separating good and evil, and clearly labeling that grey line of crossing. Only once had there ever been an exception.
At one point, just where the river begins to make a curve toward the Waste Lands and become shallow, a peninsula shoots out and the two shores barely touch. If one were ridding towards the piece of land from the Waste Lands there would all most be a clear path through a thinned out section of trees. This is the place of banishment. It is where the former head guard of the Goblin City had walked and then swallowed up by the shadows.
The head of the Goblin Watch set on a horse halfway down this peninsula. For the past two weeks he had been on guard and for those two weeks, at infrequent intervals, he had sensed movement. There was grey moving on grey. At one moment he had actually been sure of movement- a massive black ball had shot across the length of the shoreline. Immediately he had sent word by Kastrel to the king that something was amiss- today though he saw nothing. Yawning he turned the horse to tread along toward the trees.
Abruptly he heard clamoring coming from the denser side of the forest. Several goblins were running about as if dodging a wild animal. For a moment the head of the Goblin Watch tensed- what could be causing such a commotion? A rider became visible through the trees and a mounted elf came pounding onto the shoreline. Recognizing the king's colors on the saddle he galloped his horse toward the elf. Someone yelled "Sprout!" and several of the Elf Watch came running as well.
Sprout had come by the way of the hidden path through the Labyrinth. He had passed by the last curved wall to be ridding along a straight path to this very spot. He had helped the Watch the night that he and his companions had found Wild Cherry. He found himself remembering that night- her frightened face and the unease of knowing that something good had touched the other shore. He remembered hearing the unreal screeches as they helped her through the place of crossing. It had been a complicated maneuver. He knew that it had only been by the grace of the Moon that they had been successful. Now today he came upon the Watch to tell them that Wild Cherry and the king were to perform a union ceremony. He came to a rough halt in front of his kindred.
"You Sprout, what brings you out this far from the shelter of the wood?" asked one of them.
"I come from the Goblin City. I've returned from protecting the Savior of the Underground."
"What?" several voices gasped.
"The King of the Goblins will wed the Savior of the Underground. Show me the way to Lord Earthendale and Lady Cottonwood."
Lord Earthendale had been home for a week. Since the teaching of Wild Cherry and the beginning of her journey he had been travelling to every elvan settlement in the wood. He had left Cousin Danellion's house the day after Wild Cherry's departure. From there he had passed the place of crossing, heard reports from the guards, and had then moved on. Much to his dismay he had seen many relatives who had seen their last Full Moon. The week before arriving home to his sister he had whispered the Dead's Rights to a child who had not been born strong enough- "the earth receive you and use you. May life begin where this one did end. All has been given and much has been taken away. Rest soul, rest."
He had arrived home in time to feel the Earth shiver with delight at the departure of the Entity. As he sat reading a massive book he glanced up at his sister- all ready he was convinced that he could see the changes occurring on her face. Their father would have been so proud. He looked back inside the book, and gently turned a page that resembled more of a fall-colored leaf than paper. It crackled and then lay down softly. He then heard galloping and left his book and went to the nearest tunnel to see who would be arriving.
"Lord Earthendale! Lady Cottonwood! My lord and my lady!"
Sprout had returned. Exiting the tunnel, he greeted the young elf with a grin. "All the flowers must be smiling. You arrive home bearing his majesty's colors and you look as young as the day that you were born. Greetings Sprout!"
"My Lord Earthendale." He dismounted and knelt before him. Not a second passed before Lord Earthendale was lifting him up and holding him in an embrace.
"Well done young Sprout. Well done."
Sprout faltered and knew not what to say to him. He patted his shoulder and merely said, "Thank you."
Lord Earthendale pulled away. "So you return with news? Yes we felt the change. The messenger pigeon arrived safely too. The Moon bless her- Wild Cherry has committed the ultimate act of love."
"She has not yet my lord."
"What? But she came in time- we felt the Entity leave."
"Yes my lord, but she performs the ultimate act in about a month's time. The Goblin King shall take a wife."
He told them everything. Perched on a comfortable toad stool and sipping dandelion tea he told his lord and lady every detail he could recall: entering the Labyrinth with the fuzz ball Hobbes; fighting the Night Crawlers; being rescued by Kastrel and Yvonne; and seeing Wild Cherry safely into the arms of the king. "Night Crawlers?" Lady Cottonwood tisked. "Nasty creatures! Who in their right mind would have asked them for help?"
"Ophelia." Sprout glanced at them over his mug.
"Good heavens- the healer and doctor?" asked Lord Earthendale.
"Yes."
"But she of all the Fae should know better. She has treated the wounds of those who have survived an attack. Such foolishness!"
"Don't speak too wrongly of the dead my lord."
"She is dead?"
"The Entity ensnared her. In her madness she would have killed Jareth. Wild Cherry intervened hardly in time. She now lies buried next to his majesty's parents."
Lady Cottonwood lowered her face. "The earth receive her and use her."
"Such is life," her brother remarked. "Her death in return for his life, for our lives. How does the king fair with her departure?"
"Well enough. He saw her properly buried. I think it was a comfort to know it was not her true self dying, but rather it was the bonds of the Entity being broken."
Lord Earthendale nodded approvingly. "Wise words Sprout. Finish your tea and let us move on to the details of this most welcome Union Ritual." He sipped his tea.
Lady Cottonwood soon excused herself. There were many preparations to be made, she explained, ritual attire to be done up and gifts to be arranged. With her gone her brother drummed his fingers thoughtfully on the table. With a sigh he leaned his head on his hand. Sprout took notice. He had expected his lordship to engage himself in the preparations along side Lady Cottonwood, to show much more joy. He realized that there was indeed a mixture of emotions to be felt- the good healer and doctor had been a close friend. He heard him sigh again. "Something troubles you my lord?" he ventured.
"Oh young Sprout there are times when a wise elf as myself wishes he had someone wiser to seek council with. I have no father, as you know he has since passed on."
"Yes, and a wise elf he was."
"Hmmm indeed. You see Sprout I've been reading a book. It is a wonderful book. It's there on the desk- fetch it here. The only problem Sprout is that I cannot make any sense of it."
Sprout rose and went to the desk. The book he found lying there was dark and thick. It was old too- the edgings were worn thin and the corners flipped out from over use. He lifted it thoughtfully. It was light despite its size, but considered it still had a certain weight that was uncommon. Turning it over in his hands he realized what book he was holding. He turned toward Lord Earthendale.
"It's the Book of Prophecy." The awe was obvious in his voice.
"Yes. Come now, bring it here." He took hold of it and gently opened it. He spread its leaf pages wide against the table. He flipped a few and laid his hands against a particular two. "Now you know how the Book of Prophecy works, right?"
"It writes as our world evolves. One's personal prophecy may remain blank for years until an event occurs that concerns you."
"Correct. When it is silent we must go on living and working, pursuing good. When it speaks we must follow it, or we destroy our world's balance."
"I agree with you Lord Earthendale- truer words could not be spoken. But something ails you my lord, whose prophecy do you read that makes you so unhappy?"
"That is my problem Sprout- I do not know whose prophecy I read. A week ago I was preparing for my journey home. That night as I slept I had a terrible dream: I was standing on a small hill just outside the walls of the Labyrinth. I faced north and a great blackness overtook the skyline. In my dream I knew I looked upon the Outer Limits. I felt the weight of the evil within bearing down on me. From out of the blackness a dark figure walked. I struggled within myself for I did not know whether to bow before him or flee from his presence. I awoke with the images of goblins flashing behind my eye lids.
"I altered my course home enough to pass by the Tower of Knowledge, and I brought forth the Book of Prophecy. I read the fulfillment of Jareth's love, and the departure of the Entity, but then the book went blank. It was as if the power of the Underground could not think of the right words to continue on. I really wanted to believe that it was a relief so overwhelming that even the powers within could not voice their joy. The dark figure walked beside me though, and in my inner most thoughts I knew that the Book of Prophecy would soon speak again." He stopped and blankly starred ahead.
Sprout leaned forward and tried to glance at the pages, but Lord Earthendale's fingers were spread like two giant fans over the words. "And did it my lord?"
"Yes, it did speak again." He suddenly went pale. "Lebanon lives."
