Chapter 3
The Lone Flute


Eavan stamped her foot impatiently. "Are you going to tell me or should I etch the outline of your body with arrows in the tree?" Jesse spluttered. He didn't want to have to explain the whole story. He inched away from the tree, but Eavan followed him step by step.

Jesse stuttered. Eavan was getting impatient and she reached for the arrows in her quiver. "Dare not chase after you!" Jesse spit out. He panted afterwards, but stopped when a smile was curving Eavan's lips. Eavan stood on her toes and planted a small kiss on Jesse's forehead. He could feel himself turn crimson with embarrassment.

Eavan giggled and darted away. She ran through the trees at her full speed, but stopped. She turned around and was disappointed to see that Jesse wasn't following her. She pulled her flute and a piece of parchment out. Eavan also pulled out an arrow from her quiver. Using a trick that she taught herself, Eavan plucked a ripe fruit from a tree and broke it open. She dipped the tip of the arrow into the fruit and used it to write on the parchment.

She stuck the parchment to the tree with the arrow and slipped the flute over the feathered end. Eavan sighed and took a bite out of the fruit. She then ran farther into the forest.
***

Jesse dragged himself aimlessly through the forest. He passed up another chance to follow Eavan and he hated himself already. A stick broke behind him and Jesse slowly turned around. Gandalf stood there with a piece of parchment, arrow, and flute in his hand.

"My boy, I have been looking for you," Gandalf said. He handed Jesse the three items in his hands. Jesse recognized the flute and arrow at once. He looked at the parchment. It was some kind of note.

Jesse-
If something makes you follow me, don't. I know these forests like the back of my hand. Instead find me. I have given you my flute. It is magic and it will lead you to me. I haven't the time to explain how it works, but elves are wise and you are to figure it out on your own. Farewell.
-Eavan

Jesse sighed, he looked up to see that Gandalf was gone. He groaned and reread the message for a third, and fourth times. Jesse groaned. He may have the body of an elf, but he still had the mind of a freshman.

He tried holding the flute loosely, hoping it would turn in his hand to tell him the direction to walk in. Nothing happened. Then he tried throwing the flute and walking to the spot that it landed, but he was just going in circles.

Jesse tried different note and scales on the flute, but he just made reckless noise. Then he remembered the melody that Eavan was playing when he first met her. He had watched her fingers dance over the repeating notes and had memorized the first several notes in the song.

Putting the flute to his lips, Jesse began to blow and play. Something happened that Jesse never would have thought could happen, the rest of the song flooded into his head and his fingers moved as gracefully as Eavan's. Jesse continued to play and soon saw silver footsteps in the dirt.

He stopped playing to gaze at the footprints, but they disappeared. He started playing the flute and again they became visible. Jesse continued to play as he followed the steps through the forest.
***

Eavan had arrived back to her home only to find her sister frantically looking for her. When her sister saw Eavan coming through the forest, she let out a shrill squeal and bounded over. Eavan bent down to pick the little toddler up, and kissed her on the cheek.

"Well, well, Ellania, sorry I took so long. I met an unexpected delay," Eavan said to the giggling girl in her arms. The door swung open and Eavan's older brother trudged out of the house.

"Sure is time you got back, Eavan!" He yelled. Her brother had his hunting gear on, "I was waiting for you to return so I may go hunting. With mother and father in the council, it is up to you and I to keep watch on little Ella."

Eavan bowed her head; "I'm sorry Elladran. I met a stranger, another elf, and he was keeping me from returning soon." Just as Eavan said that, Jesse came bounding out of the forest. He was no longer playing the flute, because with keen elf vision he was able to spot Eavan. Eavan smiled and set the squirming girl down.

Eavan turned and ran to Jesse. "You figured out how to work it!" Eavan cried. She threw her arms around Jesse and hugged him. He started to wonder what changed her mind about him, but was soon cut off short by someone clearing his throat. Eavan let go of Jesse and turned to look at her brother. He was glaring at her and Jesse watched as she hung her head in shame. "Elladran, this is the elf I met. Jesse this is my brother, Elladran."

Elladran walked up to Jesse, he looked him head to toe and stood his ground. "Jesse. That isn't a very Elven name. Why is that?" Jesse panicked, he never though this would happen and suddenly it happened.

"Umm…It's a nick name," Jesse blurted out, "I never use my real name anymore, so just call me Jesse." Elladran laughed, he bought the partial lie. "Well, Eavan. You may visit with Jesse, but keep an eye on Ella." Elladran started walking away but got a glint in Eavan's eye. He turned around promptly and looked at her, "Don't even think about it." And soon he had disappeared into the forest.

Jesse watched the elf leave and didn't turn his attention back to the two others with him until he felt something tugging on his pant leg. He looked down and saw little Ella looking up at his with big blue eyes. She held up her hands in hopes that Jesse would pick her up. Her effort did not go to waste as Jesse bent down and hoisted the toddler onto his shoulders. Ella giggled and smiled at Eavan.

"That's strange. She never likes strangers, but she acts like she already knows you," Eavan said puzzled. Jesse gazed into Ella's eyes. She did remind him of the little girl that lived across the street from him. He used to baby-sit for the girl, until he was diagnosed with cancer.

"So, where do you live?" Eavan asked. Jesse held his breath. He had completely forgot about the fact that he needed to stay somewhere. Jesse decided that he must tell Eavan about what happened to him.

***

"Fascinating!" Eavan said. She was sitting on the bottom steps of a staircase in her house. Jesse stopped pacing.

"Do you believe me?" He asked, staring into Eavan's blue eyes.

"Of course. I was waiting for something like this to happen for who knows how long. I've always wanted to prove that there are other worlds then maybe other elves--" Eavan was interrupted by a knock on the door. She glanced out a nearby window, "Who could that be? Its barely after noon, there is no way that Elladran could have hunted this fast." Eavan shrugged and opened the door.

Jesse guessed that it was just Gandalf or another elf. His guesses were proved wrong when he heard Eavan scream. He looked at the door but she was gone. The door slammed shut and the house was quiet again. He panicked. Someone had taken Eavan. A cry broke the silence. Behind him, little Ella just realized what had happened and she was sobbing. Jesse scooped the girl into his arms and calmed her down. Then he remembered something…The flute!