Three days later Hedregon's arms were numb. He hadn't stopped at all,
mainly out of fear of inability to start back up again, and was getting
extremely weary. Food had run out the day before, his blankets were sopping
wet, and the only thing which seemed to be somewhat on his side was the icy
wind helping to push him upriver at the price of severe cold.
Suddenly the air stopped. The fierce wind became a gentle breeze and warmth flushed into Hedregon's face. He looked around, and saw tall, strong forests filled with golden-leaved trees. The canopy closed out all light, but for some reason light seemed to come from within the trees. After a few hours, a harbor presented itself to Hedregon, and he allowed his boat to sail in between two of the large tree roots used for docks. An Elf was there, holding a piece of parchment between his thin fingers and giving Hedregon a very stern look.
"What is your name and business?" The Elf demanded. Hedregon did not feel like answering this question. He got out of the boat; now dragging his pack, and fell down. The Elf must have realized the condition Hedregon was in, because he knelt down to help him to his feet. "Can you stand?" he asked.
"Yes," Hedregon replied, "I can stand. I am seeking medical assistance; I am badly wounded."
"Please, come with me." The Elf offered, and Hedregon followed. They walked until they came to a larger path, and as it was now evening, the whole forest seemed to be illuminated with moonlight. Hedregon thought that he could not take in enough all at once, for the trees now had fine ladders and stairs leading up to beyond where Hedregon could see.
Being led through the Elf city Hedregon began to feel very self-conscious. Apparently the spectacle of a half-dead man walking through the heart of Elvish land was interesting enough to collect a few spectators. Soon enough, Elves had gathered to look upon him, and Hedregon had almost given up on trying to take in all that was around him when he looked up. That was when he saw her.
High above him on a white-railed bridge between two trees was a maiden looking down upon the crowd with a curious glance. Her hair was a light, shadowy brown and chopped hastily quite short, and while her expression was saddened, her eyes danced with light and shone with the joy of simply being alive. Then their eyes met, and it was in that instant that Hedregon fell in love for the first time.
He was led on, but as he was hurried along, they held each other's gaze until she was out of sight. After a few minutes the Elf from the harbor stopped in front of a ladder, so thin it could have been mistaken for a silver spider's web, which led to no specific place, just upwards until it disappeared into the leaves.
Hedregon turned to the Elf, but he had already flitted up the ladder. Hedregon clenched his teeth, took a breath and clambered onto the ladder. He clung to the first step for dear life, and then the next. He would have tried to reach the next rail, but the pressure of his upper body and the sturdy ladder broke his legs with a nasty crunching sound. Hedregon fell with a thud to the ground below and blackness suffocated him.
Frantically he groped the air, but he couldn't see a thing. Letting his arms drop to his sides, Hedregon let out a cry of pain. Soon the Elf, who must have heard Hedregon's cry, called up the ladder for the healers to hurry,
"He cannot make it up; we should not carry him. We'll need four strong at least to heal him." The Elf turned to Hedregon, "Patience. Drink this, as it will allow you to fall back asleep and ease the pain."
So a thick, warm liquid was permitted to slide down Hedregon's throat as more Elves in bluish garments landed at the bottom of the ladder like cats. Try as he did to stay awake to watch the Elves work, Hedregon quickly was welcomed into darkness.
Suddenly the air stopped. The fierce wind became a gentle breeze and warmth flushed into Hedregon's face. He looked around, and saw tall, strong forests filled with golden-leaved trees. The canopy closed out all light, but for some reason light seemed to come from within the trees. After a few hours, a harbor presented itself to Hedregon, and he allowed his boat to sail in between two of the large tree roots used for docks. An Elf was there, holding a piece of parchment between his thin fingers and giving Hedregon a very stern look.
"What is your name and business?" The Elf demanded. Hedregon did not feel like answering this question. He got out of the boat; now dragging his pack, and fell down. The Elf must have realized the condition Hedregon was in, because he knelt down to help him to his feet. "Can you stand?" he asked.
"Yes," Hedregon replied, "I can stand. I am seeking medical assistance; I am badly wounded."
"Please, come with me." The Elf offered, and Hedregon followed. They walked until they came to a larger path, and as it was now evening, the whole forest seemed to be illuminated with moonlight. Hedregon thought that he could not take in enough all at once, for the trees now had fine ladders and stairs leading up to beyond where Hedregon could see.
Being led through the Elf city Hedregon began to feel very self-conscious. Apparently the spectacle of a half-dead man walking through the heart of Elvish land was interesting enough to collect a few spectators. Soon enough, Elves had gathered to look upon him, and Hedregon had almost given up on trying to take in all that was around him when he looked up. That was when he saw her.
High above him on a white-railed bridge between two trees was a maiden looking down upon the crowd with a curious glance. Her hair was a light, shadowy brown and chopped hastily quite short, and while her expression was saddened, her eyes danced with light and shone with the joy of simply being alive. Then their eyes met, and it was in that instant that Hedregon fell in love for the first time.
He was led on, but as he was hurried along, they held each other's gaze until she was out of sight. After a few minutes the Elf from the harbor stopped in front of a ladder, so thin it could have been mistaken for a silver spider's web, which led to no specific place, just upwards until it disappeared into the leaves.
Hedregon turned to the Elf, but he had already flitted up the ladder. Hedregon clenched his teeth, took a breath and clambered onto the ladder. He clung to the first step for dear life, and then the next. He would have tried to reach the next rail, but the pressure of his upper body and the sturdy ladder broke his legs with a nasty crunching sound. Hedregon fell with a thud to the ground below and blackness suffocated him.
Frantically he groped the air, but he couldn't see a thing. Letting his arms drop to his sides, Hedregon let out a cry of pain. Soon the Elf, who must have heard Hedregon's cry, called up the ladder for the healers to hurry,
"He cannot make it up; we should not carry him. We'll need four strong at least to heal him." The Elf turned to Hedregon, "Patience. Drink this, as it will allow you to fall back asleep and ease the pain."
So a thick, warm liquid was permitted to slide down Hedregon's throat as more Elves in bluish garments landed at the bottom of the ladder like cats. Try as he did to stay awake to watch the Elves work, Hedregon quickly was welcomed into darkness.
