Chapter 3
Sówen led them around for about a half an hour. The path they followed never seemed to stop, it kept winding on and on for as far as the eye can see. The path split in two near a large rowan tree. Sówen took the path next to a stream. As they walked, it broadened and became a large river. It was really very pretty, with the light from the moon (now visible away from its shroud of dark clouds) glinting off of the water. Someone could get to love this place. Quinn thought. I think I could. The moon's so beautiful.. Leah was obviously having a rough time. "Are we there yet?" she asked for the (literally) 10th time. "No." replied Sówen patiently. "But soon we will be." "Where exactly are we going?" Quinn asked. "To my home. It is a secret, known only to my family and close friends. But I am willing to show you," Sówen replied. They came to a large bank near a beautiful waterfall, and into a hole in the steep face of the cliff. Inside there was a tunnel, lit by strange white light, not a sickly yellow like the flame of a candle. One could tell that someone magical lived there. It opened into a large, roomy cavern, also lit with the mysterious white light. Sówen also appeared to be glowing. "Wow." Quinn said softly. "You live here?" Sówen nodded. "My brother lives in a similar dwelling on the other side of the cliff." "What do you call this place?" Quinn asked, "If anything.." "We call it Ithilnen. That means, moon water." Sówen said. Quinn stood, amazed at what she saw around her. "Ithilnen." she whispered. Leah, however, plopped down on the ground on the ground with her back to the wall and fell asleep. Sówen laughed softly; Quinn just shook her head in exasperation. "Leave her here." Sówen said. "Follow me, I am going to see if my brother is here." With that she disappeared through a hole in the wall. Quinn followed. She found herself in a short tunnel, very much like the entrance tunnel, which led to a large cavern like that of the one she had just left. It was empty of people, except for herself and Sówen. "Oh shoot. He must have left already. Funny how he didn't come and say 'aiya' after his long journey home.. Oh, whatever." Sówen muttered, then turned to Quinn. "If you are not too weary, will you come with me outside? I need to find my brother." She said. "I'm not tired," Quinn lied. She was a little tired, but not too tired for an adventure. Plus, how could she fall asleep when amid all this? "I'll come with you." "So they exited out of another tunnel and went back into the woods. Sówen made a strange, whistling noise, "a call we use", as Sówen said. Still, nobody came. Finally, Sówen decided that while they waited for him to arrive, Quinn should learn how to fight with a short sword (as the long ones were way too long for her!), in case she needed to fight to protect herself. Sówen gave Quinn a short sword to use while she learned. It was very light but strong. "An elfish blade, I presume?" Quinn remarked. "What else?" replied Sówen, smiling. So Quinn learned all the different swipes and strokes to use with the sword, how to stand, and so on. She really wanted to learn archery, however, and felt clumsy with a sword. But Sówen was patient and waited, so she was also. After a few minutes she wasn't so clumsy, and began to feel more confident in herself. "Very good!" Sówen said. "I fear any Orc that gets in your way!" Quinn smiled and continued to swipe the sword around her. I'm getting the hang of this! She thought. She spun around with the sword. Clang! There was another person, with his sword against hers.
Author's Note: So, it's like Eowyn, get over it! :p I already put the disclaimer on here!
Sówen led them around for about a half an hour. The path they followed never seemed to stop, it kept winding on and on for as far as the eye can see. The path split in two near a large rowan tree. Sówen took the path next to a stream. As they walked, it broadened and became a large river. It was really very pretty, with the light from the moon (now visible away from its shroud of dark clouds) glinting off of the water. Someone could get to love this place. Quinn thought. I think I could. The moon's so beautiful.. Leah was obviously having a rough time. "Are we there yet?" she asked for the (literally) 10th time. "No." replied Sówen patiently. "But soon we will be." "Where exactly are we going?" Quinn asked. "To my home. It is a secret, known only to my family and close friends. But I am willing to show you," Sówen replied. They came to a large bank near a beautiful waterfall, and into a hole in the steep face of the cliff. Inside there was a tunnel, lit by strange white light, not a sickly yellow like the flame of a candle. One could tell that someone magical lived there. It opened into a large, roomy cavern, also lit with the mysterious white light. Sówen also appeared to be glowing. "Wow." Quinn said softly. "You live here?" Sówen nodded. "My brother lives in a similar dwelling on the other side of the cliff." "What do you call this place?" Quinn asked, "If anything.." "We call it Ithilnen. That means, moon water." Sówen said. Quinn stood, amazed at what she saw around her. "Ithilnen." she whispered. Leah, however, plopped down on the ground on the ground with her back to the wall and fell asleep. Sówen laughed softly; Quinn just shook her head in exasperation. "Leave her here." Sówen said. "Follow me, I am going to see if my brother is here." With that she disappeared through a hole in the wall. Quinn followed. She found herself in a short tunnel, very much like the entrance tunnel, which led to a large cavern like that of the one she had just left. It was empty of people, except for herself and Sówen. "Oh shoot. He must have left already. Funny how he didn't come and say 'aiya' after his long journey home.. Oh, whatever." Sówen muttered, then turned to Quinn. "If you are not too weary, will you come with me outside? I need to find my brother." She said. "I'm not tired," Quinn lied. She was a little tired, but not too tired for an adventure. Plus, how could she fall asleep when amid all this? "I'll come with you." "So they exited out of another tunnel and went back into the woods. Sówen made a strange, whistling noise, "a call we use", as Sówen said. Still, nobody came. Finally, Sówen decided that while they waited for him to arrive, Quinn should learn how to fight with a short sword (as the long ones were way too long for her!), in case she needed to fight to protect herself. Sówen gave Quinn a short sword to use while she learned. It was very light but strong. "An elfish blade, I presume?" Quinn remarked. "What else?" replied Sówen, smiling. So Quinn learned all the different swipes and strokes to use with the sword, how to stand, and so on. She really wanted to learn archery, however, and felt clumsy with a sword. But Sówen was patient and waited, so she was also. After a few minutes she wasn't so clumsy, and began to feel more confident in herself. "Very good!" Sówen said. "I fear any Orc that gets in your way!" Quinn smiled and continued to swipe the sword around her. I'm getting the hang of this! She thought. She spun around with the sword. Clang! There was another person, with his sword against hers.
Author's Note: So, it's like Eowyn, get over it! :p I already put the disclaimer on here!