Chapter Nine: One More Time
Instead of heading to her chambers, Reign pulled her cloak tight and went out onto the grounds. The grass was moist and the air crisp, but at least the clouds had cleared out. She needed a clear night--a clear night and a full moon.
It had been almost two hundred years to the day since she had last performed the zotîkos ritual. She was becoming weak and her senses were beginning to fail her. So she walked into the forest, careful not to be seen. Her circumspect actions hid her from any who were out in the forest that night. She stopped somewhere in the trees, perhaps a half a mile from the entrance. It was the perfect location because it provided plenty of cover, but the moon could still be seen from a gap in the branches. She carefully removed her robes. It was so cold. She shivered—not just from the frozen arctic that was her environment, but from the sensation that someone was watching her. A twig snapped, and so did Reign. She froze, hoping to become invisible. It was only a moment before she realized that elves unfortunately did not have that luxury, so instead she kicked off from the ground and jumped high into the branches of the nearest tree. Safe in her nest, she scanned the forest floor for any sign of movement. When she was satisfied there was none, she fell gracefully back onto the earth.
Elves always wore a saphie around their upper arms. It was essential to the ritual. Charms hung from it, as did a feather from the ancient Kaluluwa bird and an emerald. She unhooked the armband and positioned the emerald in the middle of her chest. Then she chanted.
"Gïo Kor, y ashatä lunah, zefyro ï âme. (Great Kor and ancient moon, replenish my soul.)" Reign leapt high into the sky, and when she cleared the trees, the moonlight caught her in midair. The emerald soaked in the light and transmitted it into energy. She immediately felt refreshed as the magic of her god and moon filled her veins and surged through her body. It was an ecstasy like no human could ever imagine. She floated only for a few minutes, and afterwards was gently lowered to the ground. As she landed softly her emerald fell into her hand. She replaced it on her arm and looked down to where she had left her robe. She picked it up and dusted it off. When she wrapped it tightly around her she pulled the hood up to block the icy cold fingers of the night. As she made her way back to the castle she played with her hands, marveling at how long it had been since her magic had been so strong. The sparks and strings of light laced her fingers and generated a smile on the elf's face. That euphoria was destroyed when something large stepped out of the shadows.
"Dorrin? What're you doin' out in the forest at this time o' night?" It was Hagrid. He was holding an old lantern up to his face whose light exaggerated his already concerned and slightly frightened look. His bloodhound, Fang, sat silently by his side. Before Reign could answer he asked another question. "I saw a great ball o' light comin' from the sky, and it looked like you were in't. Then I see ye through the trees and ye got lights all in yer hands. Care to explain that one, Miss Chambers?" Reign searched for the right words.
"Um, well, you see--" she stopped. There was no explanation except the truth. The giant raised his caterpillar eyebrow as he awaited a justification. The girl sighed. "Walk with me Hagrid." As they made their way through the forest, Reign pulled the lantern from the man's hand and blew out the glow within it. Before the darkness registered she sent up a small orb of light directly in front of them. Hagrid waited patiently for her to speak, but she didn't until they reached his cabin and were inside.
Hagrid's house was warm and inviting, and like Texas, everything was big. A blazing fire still crackled in the fireplace as they took a seat by it. It was then that Reign removed her hood and exposed her ears. Hagrid gasped and his eyes bulged, but he smiled after he quickly recovered from the shock.
"Should've seen that comin'," he said with a hearty laugh. "So, yer an elf. And why shouldn't ye be?" He got up from his chair and retrieved a teapot filled with water. After placing it over the fire he sat back down, and Reign retold her story to the third person in only a matter of months. Hagrid seemed quite interested, and he had every reason to, seeing as he was in love with all magical creatures. He'd never met an elf before, so he milked the experience for all it was worth by asking a million questions. Reign answered them all completely and composedly. They talked far into the night. The tea had been entirely ignored and was only brought back to attention when the boiling water poured over its edges and onto the fire. Both Hagrid and Reign jumped from their seats as the scalding hot liquid crept onto the floorboards. The man quickly found a rag and threw it on top of the mess. As he was cleaning, Reign looked at the clock above the mantle.
"Three o' clock! Gracious, I really need to get back." Hagrid looked up with gloomy eyes. Not only was he sad for the conversation getting cut short, but it had been so long since he had had a visitor that he didn't want her to go. But the gratefulness he felt for the visit overpowered the greed for company and he straightened up and led her to the door. "My secret is safe with you, right Hagrid?" she asked before leaving.
"Of course, Reign! My lips are shut tighter than a Gringott's vault. Don't you worry." He winked and the elf stood on her toes and planted a kiss on his cheek. The giant blushed as Reign glided down the steps and across the rain-soaked grass that was his front yard.