Alanna rode harder as the sun began to set beyond the trees. She wouldn't
be able to make it through the Dark Wood at night. That would be just plain
suicide! Soon after the war with the Stormwings, a mysterious dark forest
had appeared as if overnight. No one could explain how or why. The only
thing known about the forest was there strange creatures there. Strange
noises were reported by the people living in a nearby village.
She had three choices. She could take the long way around the forest, go through it at night, or wait until dawn. But she had promised George she would be there for his birthday. She had no choice but to go through the Dark Wood. She slowed as she approached the edge of the forest. What to do, what to do.
"I have faced many things throughout my years as a page, squire, and knight. Am I going to let a bunch of trees scare me?" she thought out loud.
"There's more than just trees in those woods, my dear," said a nearby voice. Alanna looked around and noticed an old woman sitting by the road.
"Madam, why do you sit there?"
"I dare not travel the road in the Wood at night! And you had better follow my example and sit here by me 'til morning's light." Alanna dismounted and led her horse over to the woman.
"I would need someplace to keep my horse."
"There are a few old posts from an old fence across the road. You may tie her there. Then come sit by me." Alanna did so. "Now tell me, Lioness, what are you doing out by the Dark Wood?"
"I am trying to get home. It is my husband's birthday, and I promised I would be there."
"Ah, I see, but surely he would not mind if it concerned your safety. Do you know of anything what lurks in the Wood?"
"No, old mother, like most I know nothing."
"Then I will tell you. There is a great evil lurking in those trees. Because of its presence, the forest is always dark. To travel through it at night ensures that you will never be seen again. Under this evil are shielded many smaller evils. Monsters none living have ever seen. The forest grows by night and sleeps by day. However, young one, it will not grow tonight."
"Grow? Why won't it?"
"There is a very small force compared to the evil one, that has kept it from growing out of control. They are a marvelous team of beautiful creatures! Warriors, you might call them. They are far advanced in the fighting skills and are very intelligent," she tapped her head with her pointer finger. "They are a group of immortals, but not the ones you are familiar with."
"Who are they?"
"Elves."
"Elves? Old mother, everyone knows elves are only fairy stories."
"Have you ever seen one?"
"Well, no."
"That do not say they are not real! They are as real as you and me!" the old woman said in a huff.
"I am sorry. I didn't mean to make you upset."
"It is fine," she said calming down. "I am just easily upset over the elves. No one gives them credit for all they do."
"What do they do?"
"Ah, that is the magic question. I am sorry to say it must be answered at another time. I must go." She stood and scooped up a walking stick. She was very short, shorter than Alanna. Her staff was twice as tall as she was.
"Where are you going?" Alanna asked standing up next to her.
"Oh? Ah, I must go make my rounds. Very tricky can those small evils be. I must make sure none escape from the forest."
"Please, old mother, you can't possibly do anything of the sort."
"Oh, can't I! You just stay here. Don't go into the Wood! I'll be back by morning."
"Old mother, you can't go. What will you do?"
"You ask many questions, Lioness."
"That's another thing. How do you know who I am?"
"Oh, everyone's heard of the Lioness of Tortal! Even the elves, dear. See you on the morrow. Do not try to follow." With these last words, the old woman disappeared into thin air. There was nothing Alanna could do, but sit and wait for the woman to return.
She had three choices. She could take the long way around the forest, go through it at night, or wait until dawn. But she had promised George she would be there for his birthday. She had no choice but to go through the Dark Wood. She slowed as she approached the edge of the forest. What to do, what to do.
"I have faced many things throughout my years as a page, squire, and knight. Am I going to let a bunch of trees scare me?" she thought out loud.
"There's more than just trees in those woods, my dear," said a nearby voice. Alanna looked around and noticed an old woman sitting by the road.
"Madam, why do you sit there?"
"I dare not travel the road in the Wood at night! And you had better follow my example and sit here by me 'til morning's light." Alanna dismounted and led her horse over to the woman.
"I would need someplace to keep my horse."
"There are a few old posts from an old fence across the road. You may tie her there. Then come sit by me." Alanna did so. "Now tell me, Lioness, what are you doing out by the Dark Wood?"
"I am trying to get home. It is my husband's birthday, and I promised I would be there."
"Ah, I see, but surely he would not mind if it concerned your safety. Do you know of anything what lurks in the Wood?"
"No, old mother, like most I know nothing."
"Then I will tell you. There is a great evil lurking in those trees. Because of its presence, the forest is always dark. To travel through it at night ensures that you will never be seen again. Under this evil are shielded many smaller evils. Monsters none living have ever seen. The forest grows by night and sleeps by day. However, young one, it will not grow tonight."
"Grow? Why won't it?"
"There is a very small force compared to the evil one, that has kept it from growing out of control. They are a marvelous team of beautiful creatures! Warriors, you might call them. They are far advanced in the fighting skills and are very intelligent," she tapped her head with her pointer finger. "They are a group of immortals, but not the ones you are familiar with."
"Who are they?"
"Elves."
"Elves? Old mother, everyone knows elves are only fairy stories."
"Have you ever seen one?"
"Well, no."
"That do not say they are not real! They are as real as you and me!" the old woman said in a huff.
"I am sorry. I didn't mean to make you upset."
"It is fine," she said calming down. "I am just easily upset over the elves. No one gives them credit for all they do."
"What do they do?"
"Ah, that is the magic question. I am sorry to say it must be answered at another time. I must go." She stood and scooped up a walking stick. She was very short, shorter than Alanna. Her staff was twice as tall as she was.
"Where are you going?" Alanna asked standing up next to her.
"Oh? Ah, I must go make my rounds. Very tricky can those small evils be. I must make sure none escape from the forest."
"Please, old mother, you can't possibly do anything of the sort."
"Oh, can't I! You just stay here. Don't go into the Wood! I'll be back by morning."
"Old mother, you can't go. What will you do?"
"You ask many questions, Lioness."
"That's another thing. How do you know who I am?"
"Oh, everyone's heard of the Lioness of Tortal! Even the elves, dear. See you on the morrow. Do not try to follow." With these last words, the old woman disappeared into thin air. There was nothing Alanna could do, but sit and wait for the woman to return.