Pokota's Plight

Chapter Thirty-six, Dead Things Live Here

By Relm

When one thought of garden mazes usually bright spring days full of flowers, perfectly manicured hedges and chirping birds came to mind. This was not the case for Amelia when she stepped through that portal.

The skies above her were a whirlwind of black, dark blue and grey. There was a constant breeze blowing through chilling anything it embraced making Amelia shiver uncontrollably. Everywhere Amelia looked she saw dead things. There were no beautifully blooming flowers, just rotten weeds and dying plants. She saw no chirping birds or frolicking wildlife just their picked clean bones littering the grounds. And the maze before her wasn't a bright green healthy and pruned hedge maze but an over grown dark swirling mass of sickly looking branches. There didn't even seem to be a way into the maze making Amelia wonder if she had to go around to find the entrance.

This maze, this area inspired fear in Amelia. It was creepy for sure but it was more than just the appearance of the maze and its surroundings that made Amelia paralyzed with fear. No matter what direction Amelia turned to look she couldn't see it but she felt it. Somewhere around her there was something staring at her. And what really bothered Amelia was that she knew it was more than one.

The female elfin ghost had warned Amelia that this journey would be dangerous so it was to be expected that she was being watched. No doubt Amelia would at some point have to fight something to get the flower. And even if she didn't Amelia assumed that whatever creatures that were lurking around the maze wouldn't let just leave with the flower. At the very least she would probably have to fight her way out.

Behind Amelia the vortex was still open and swirling. If she wanted to go back now and forget about this crazy quest then all she needed to do was turn around and walk just a few steps. Pokota was still alive and would remain so even if she didn't complete the task. She could turn back...

'No!' Amelia thought to herself. 'It doesn't matter what it will take I will get that flower and bring it back to Pokota! His future is in my hands! I cannot let fear get the best of me! I am not a weak and powerless girl. I have fought many terrifying foes in the past and I came out on top. Just because I'm alone doesn't mean that I can't do this. Be brave Amelia, be strong.'

With her fear abated somewhat Amelia stepped forward towards the maze. She had expected that she would need to travel around to find the entrance but as it turned out as soon as she stepped towards the maze it opened for her. This should have been a good thing for Amelia but the sight just gave her the creeps. This maze was enchanted meaning it was alive. Living mazes didn't always follow the rules of regular ones. This statement couldn't have rung truer because the second Amelia stepped foot within the maze it closed behind her.

Amelia wasn't a claustrophobic person by nature but at that moment she really did feel like the walls were closing in on her. She felt trapped and suddenly she was having trouble breathing. Immediately Amelia turned around to see if the maze wall would open again for her but it didn't. The twisted dark branches of the hedge maze refused to move. Amelia even put her hand to the maze wall willing it to open. All she got for her trouble was a few stinging cuts to her hand. This maze was riddled with thorns.

"Forward not backwards. The maze will reveal its exit when I find the flower." Amelia declared to herself. And with that Amelia started her search of the maze.

When looking for something hidden in a garden maze Amelia figured there were only one of two places that something would be. Either at the end of a maze (especially in those that do not have an exit but just an entrance) or right in the heart of it and Amelia's bet was on the flower being in the middle. The maze had opened itself to her making the princess believe that it didn't have a proper entrance or exit.

There was a sense of urgency bubbling away at Amelia but she pushed that rogue feeling down. Yes it was important to get the flower to Pokota but at the moment he was being kept in a magical stasis. It didn't matter how long she took it wasn't going to hurt Pokota any if she took her time. Rushing herself could mean making a mistake and a mistake wasn't something Amelia could afford to make.

So why the rushing feeling? It was of course Amelia's nerves trying to get the best of her. Anyone in a scary situation would want to get out of said situation as fast as they could manage. Amelia was no exception. But the Sailune princess pushed down that feeling as well. She was going to do this and do it right.

Right away Amelia had three directions she could go, forward, left or right. Forward would take her closer to the center of the maze but as mazes went there was never really a direct way to get to anywhere. So for sure forward wasn't Amelia's first choice. Left or right...

Amelia's gut was pulling her to the left so that's exactly the way she went. Though her gut told her this was the right way it still wasn't happy about it. She wasn't a shrine maiden though Amelia did have some of the spiritual connections a shrine maiden might have albeit weak ones so she should have felt confident in trusting her instincts. However Amelia wasn't confident.

With each step doubt seeded into Amelia's mind making her wish she had chosen another direction. Her fists were clenched tightly and going white. Had she a weapon to grasp Amelia for sure would have those fists of hers grasping it ready for an attack. Amelia had no weapon to wield but her fists themselves. So clench they were because Amelia was armed and ready.

Mazes tended to have many twists and turns and multiple paths you could take. Amelia expected to encounter at least one or two forks in her path as she walked but didn't end up being the case. The further she walked the further the path seemed to go. It seemed endless making Amelia doubt herself even more.

The never-ending path made Amelia wonder if the left and right paths were not separate paths but ones that joined together completely circling around the edge of the maze. Meaning she could just be going in circles with no real end or way to progress.

With all the doubt swimming in her mind Amelia wondered if she should just go back now and try one of the other two directions. But as it always was when it came to brain teasers your mind could be your worst enemy. Doubting herself and going back could end up with her trying one of the other two paths when in reality this one she was talking was the only true way to go. No she had to see it to the end. It was the only way you could know for sure if it was the right or wrong way.

She kept looking for that center path she had immediately decided against. If she saw that then she knew that the paths to the left and right connected with each other. But she didn't end up seeing that center path, instead she came up to a wall.

Finding a dead end might have been distressing but for Amelia it was a relief. She had gone the wrong way after all but at least she knew it was rather than guess it was. This time Amelia felt confident as she turned around to go back and take one of the other two paths.

Amelia knew it was going to be a while before she got to where she started so she wasn't surprised that it was taking a while to get back. But when she got back to where she thought she was at the beginning she was surprised with something unexpected.

Being that Amelia had originally gone left in going back to retrace her steps she should have come up to a path leading to the left with the area ahead unobstructed. But that was not the case. Yes Amelia found the path leading left (this would be the center one she had originally chosen not to take) but the area ahead (the right path) was now a wall. Had she gone too far?

Amelia turned around to look at the path she had been traveling and it now was a wall behind her. There was only one path left she could take. This was very troubling because Amelia didn't know how she was going to keep track of things now. The maze was changing on her. That claustrophobic feeling was starting to settle in again.

"This is not a bad thing. This isn't the maze trying to swallow me up. Its just showing me what is the right way to go. Be thankful for this Amelia not scared." Amelia said to herself. And with that Amelia took one big breath and stepped forward and further into the maze.

...

In the very center of the maze the wishing flower was blooming. Its petals were white, blue, purple and teal and they glowed with each hue it contained. This ever blooming flower was surrounded by the petals it had shed over the years all of them dark and black like the maze that surrounded it. But this magical flower wasn't dying but always growing forming new petals in place of those it shed.

This flower was part of the actual maze; it was the only good thing growing within it. That wasn't always the case. At one point this maze was full of these flowers and greener than any forest. But that was long ago before all the wars and strife. Many of the elves had died as well as their ways. No one was left to take care of this maze or any of the places that once held these magical blooms. This is why the maze was the way it was. The flower had to be protected.

The maze wouldn't die without the flower but the flower was part of the maze. It was the last good thing the maze had to offer and it wasn't something it was going to give up lightly.

So that's why when Amelia progressed forward the creatures watching her came out into view. These were not monsters, trolls, or demons. Like the flower they were part of the maze itself. These creatures were made of thorns, vines and blackened branches. They had four limbs and they walked on all four of them with the two front ones having large thorn like talons.

Four of them merged from the maze all growling seemingly mindlessly. But even if these grunts and growls weren't a form of communication the beasts didn't need to converse to know their purpose. They weren't four individual beasts but all extensions of the same thing; the maze. They all had one mind and could see everything all at once. That meant they also knew where the Sailune princess were.

With a final grunt three of the four beasts disappeared into the maze walls while the fourth followed the path that Amelia was taking. Its talons clicked with each slow step.

...

Back in the shrine the ghostly elves looked on watching the events unfold.

The maze does not want to give up its flower. Jroln one of the younger elfin ghosts stated.

Of course it doesn't, this is its last flower after all. Nhxl the leader of the group (the one with the deep voice) responded to the youngest of his flock.

She will be killed. Ckhaly was quick to point out. Of the seven he was always the most pessimistic.

No, she is strong, she has magic. Jroln quickly protested.

Magic will no longer work in that place. Mdagi spoke almost hauntingly as she looked on with sadness.

Mdagi why would send her there with no means for her to defend herself?! Lmonul exclaimed angrily. Though he himself was angry with what the humans had done to their kind he wasn't one to condone the slaughter of innocents.

She is human she needs to die. Ckhaly interjected rather smugly.

Ckhaly I was not talking to you! Lmonul snapped.

That is not why Mdagi sent her nor is she unarmed. Her heart is pure and her soul strong. You wish to see her worth do you not dear sister? Vlln looked on with an amused look on his face.

Mdagi didn't respond to Vlln she just continued to look on.

But that is insanity! To prove herself might mean her own death! We have no magic left to help her! Qpnix growled in frustration.

For the love of life and goodness even things that seem dead and forgotten can still have new life. Mdagi stated rather cryptically. Her feelings for this man are ones she even denies herself and yet she would die for him. I wonder if this is the true depth of the human spirit or if this light is this just one that shines all on its own? She gives me something I have not felt in many years.

And what is that dear sister?

Hope.