They walked for hours. Surrounding them was mostly small brush, but
the large trees were dense around even that. A few times they actually had
to go around a tree that had grown up in the path.
"Do things grow quickly here?" Alanna asked.
"Aye, very quickly. Almost too quickly. Everyday the forest grows larger," Tenya sounded out of breath as she explained this.
"Would you like to ride for a little while, Tenya?"
"No, no. I'm just fine. We'll be there soon anyways."
They did arrive soon. Half an hour later, the brush had begun to wear thin and slowly vanish. Torches on long staffs lighted a small clearing. They marked the way to a dome of wood and stone. The gate seemed to be of only vines. Tenya approached the gate and wrapped her walking staff upon it in a strange pattern. The gate glowed a light green and parted down the middle. Alanna was surprised that it opened wide and tall enough for her to ride through.
Once in, Alanna dismounted. Inside the dome was a large village. Trees, even in the dome, were everywhere. The huts were made out of wood from the surrounding forest. Beside each hut grew a small garden of forest greens. Torches lit a path leading to the center of the dome. Many smaller paths branched off of this one, connecting all the huts easily.
Alanna gazed around in wonder. Along the main path were shops as small and as simple as the huts. These shops weren't really shops, but sources of general needs like clothes and tools. Tall, human-like creatures stood either in the gardens, on thresholds, or on the path. They carefully watched the two women, as if studying them.
These must be the elves of the forest, thought Alanna.
"Come, Lioness. The Queen will want to speak with you." Tenya began to walk down the main path. Alanna followed, leading her horse. The path ended at a building four times the size of one of the huts. "You can leave the horse out here. It can't harm anything." With these words, Tenya entered the building. It had no solid door, but Alanna could tell something was there. She walked carefully up to it.
Tenya stuck her head out, surprising Alanna. "Scared you, did I? Come this way! You can pass without worry. It only works on those unwelcome." She grabbed Alanna by the arm and dragged her inside. She was remarkably strong for a woman of her age.
Tenya pulled Alanna up to a small platform at the back of the building. Many elves were around it and parted curiously as Tenya and Alanna approached.
"Your Majesty, I bring before you Alanna the Lioness of Tortal." Tenya bowed low and motioned for Alanna to do the same. She did.
"Ah, the brave Lioness. How honored we are to have you in our presence." The Queen spoke. Her voice was soft and melodious. It was so soothing, Alanna wanted to curl up and sleep just listening to it. "Bring a chair for our weary travelers."
Two elves each brought a wooden chair for her and Tenya. They sat and faced the Queen.
"I cannot stay long, Queen Jaidalee, I must go on the watch as you know," Tenya spoke.
"I know, sweet woman. You may leave when need be."
So the Queen has a name, thought Alanna.
"Of course I have a name, Lioness. We all have names." Alanna peered at the Queen for the first time. Her long, deep auburn hair was tied back in a braid that ended curled in her lap. Her face was lean, sharp, and regal. A crown of leaves and berries rested upon her head. She wore a long, green dress with a red-brown cloak. A pair of riding gloves was grasped gently in her hand.
What caught Alanna's attention most were the Queen's eyes. They were warm and understanding, yet cold and full of knowledge at the same time. They had no definite color. Identifiable were shades of brown, green, gold, and silver. Alanna thought these colors to be very odd, especially the gold and silver.
"Your eyes are unlike any we have seen as well," spoke the Queen. "Violet, bright violet. Would you like to know why my eyes hold sparks of gold and silver?" Alanna found she couldn't speak and nodded in reply. "The elves born that are meant to rule are born even with rich eyes. If hints of both silver and gold are not in the eyes, then the elf is not of the chosen line and may not rule. There is one elf with this trait born every few thousand years, and they are not necessarily born to the current ruler. That is how it has always been."
"That's very odd."
"No more odd than your custom of having to be born into the royal line of power. We just do things very differently."
"But I thought elves could live forever."
"We can, but we may also decide if we do not wish to live forever. We simply stop our will to live and we die. There are also other reasons why new rulers are born. Wars and battles are fought. Elves can be and are killed, sometimes a ruler is one of the victims."
"This all sounds very complicated."
"Only to those new to it."
"How long have you ruled, Your Majesty?"
"I have been Queen of the elves for over twelve thousand years, even over the elves who so not live in this forest." Alanna's eyes widened in surprise.
"Twelve thousand years, that's longer than I imagined. About the forest, I have many questions."
"They may be answered over the evening meal. Come," she stood. She was taller than even Gary and Raoul. Her braid uncoiled and part of it lie on the floor. "We have much preparation for the feast."
"Feast?"
"All guests are a great deal to us, and we show this with a feast. We eat in your honor tonight, Lioness. Please follow me." She stepped down from the small platform and exited through a door off to the side. Alanna looked over at Tenyia. She was gone.
Alanna had no choice but to follow. She found herself in a large chamber decorated lavishly with forest greens, banners, tables, and even flowers. Torches hung on the walls, lighting the large chamber up like the grand hall back at the palace. Food of every imaginable origin lie upon the center table. Many smaller tables were scattered about the room, all equally filled with food.
Alanna followed Queen Jaidalee to the head of the center table. The Queen sat at the head and gestured for Alanna to sit at her right.
"If this is what you call much preparation, then you should see what we go through at the castle," Alanna spoke. Queen Jaidalee giggled.
"Your humorous comments will be very welcome tonight, Alanna. It has been long since we have had any humor." Alanna didn't know what to say.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Please, call me Jaidalee."
^~*~^ ^~*~^ ^~*~^
A/N: Well, what do you think of it so far?
"Do things grow quickly here?" Alanna asked.
"Aye, very quickly. Almost too quickly. Everyday the forest grows larger," Tenya sounded out of breath as she explained this.
"Would you like to ride for a little while, Tenya?"
"No, no. I'm just fine. We'll be there soon anyways."
They did arrive soon. Half an hour later, the brush had begun to wear thin and slowly vanish. Torches on long staffs lighted a small clearing. They marked the way to a dome of wood and stone. The gate seemed to be of only vines. Tenya approached the gate and wrapped her walking staff upon it in a strange pattern. The gate glowed a light green and parted down the middle. Alanna was surprised that it opened wide and tall enough for her to ride through.
Once in, Alanna dismounted. Inside the dome was a large village. Trees, even in the dome, were everywhere. The huts were made out of wood from the surrounding forest. Beside each hut grew a small garden of forest greens. Torches lit a path leading to the center of the dome. Many smaller paths branched off of this one, connecting all the huts easily.
Alanna gazed around in wonder. Along the main path were shops as small and as simple as the huts. These shops weren't really shops, but sources of general needs like clothes and tools. Tall, human-like creatures stood either in the gardens, on thresholds, or on the path. They carefully watched the two women, as if studying them.
These must be the elves of the forest, thought Alanna.
"Come, Lioness. The Queen will want to speak with you." Tenya began to walk down the main path. Alanna followed, leading her horse. The path ended at a building four times the size of one of the huts. "You can leave the horse out here. It can't harm anything." With these words, Tenya entered the building. It had no solid door, but Alanna could tell something was there. She walked carefully up to it.
Tenya stuck her head out, surprising Alanna. "Scared you, did I? Come this way! You can pass without worry. It only works on those unwelcome." She grabbed Alanna by the arm and dragged her inside. She was remarkably strong for a woman of her age.
Tenya pulled Alanna up to a small platform at the back of the building. Many elves were around it and parted curiously as Tenya and Alanna approached.
"Your Majesty, I bring before you Alanna the Lioness of Tortal." Tenya bowed low and motioned for Alanna to do the same. She did.
"Ah, the brave Lioness. How honored we are to have you in our presence." The Queen spoke. Her voice was soft and melodious. It was so soothing, Alanna wanted to curl up and sleep just listening to it. "Bring a chair for our weary travelers."
Two elves each brought a wooden chair for her and Tenya. They sat and faced the Queen.
"I cannot stay long, Queen Jaidalee, I must go on the watch as you know," Tenya spoke.
"I know, sweet woman. You may leave when need be."
So the Queen has a name, thought Alanna.
"Of course I have a name, Lioness. We all have names." Alanna peered at the Queen for the first time. Her long, deep auburn hair was tied back in a braid that ended curled in her lap. Her face was lean, sharp, and regal. A crown of leaves and berries rested upon her head. She wore a long, green dress with a red-brown cloak. A pair of riding gloves was grasped gently in her hand.
What caught Alanna's attention most were the Queen's eyes. They were warm and understanding, yet cold and full of knowledge at the same time. They had no definite color. Identifiable were shades of brown, green, gold, and silver. Alanna thought these colors to be very odd, especially the gold and silver.
"Your eyes are unlike any we have seen as well," spoke the Queen. "Violet, bright violet. Would you like to know why my eyes hold sparks of gold and silver?" Alanna found she couldn't speak and nodded in reply. "The elves born that are meant to rule are born even with rich eyes. If hints of both silver and gold are not in the eyes, then the elf is not of the chosen line and may not rule. There is one elf with this trait born every few thousand years, and they are not necessarily born to the current ruler. That is how it has always been."
"That's very odd."
"No more odd than your custom of having to be born into the royal line of power. We just do things very differently."
"But I thought elves could live forever."
"We can, but we may also decide if we do not wish to live forever. We simply stop our will to live and we die. There are also other reasons why new rulers are born. Wars and battles are fought. Elves can be and are killed, sometimes a ruler is one of the victims."
"This all sounds very complicated."
"Only to those new to it."
"How long have you ruled, Your Majesty?"
"I have been Queen of the elves for over twelve thousand years, even over the elves who so not live in this forest." Alanna's eyes widened in surprise.
"Twelve thousand years, that's longer than I imagined. About the forest, I have many questions."
"They may be answered over the evening meal. Come," she stood. She was taller than even Gary and Raoul. Her braid uncoiled and part of it lie on the floor. "We have much preparation for the feast."
"Feast?"
"All guests are a great deal to us, and we show this with a feast. We eat in your honor tonight, Lioness. Please follow me." She stepped down from the small platform and exited through a door off to the side. Alanna looked over at Tenyia. She was gone.
Alanna had no choice but to follow. She found herself in a large chamber decorated lavishly with forest greens, banners, tables, and even flowers. Torches hung on the walls, lighting the large chamber up like the grand hall back at the palace. Food of every imaginable origin lie upon the center table. Many smaller tables were scattered about the room, all equally filled with food.
Alanna followed Queen Jaidalee to the head of the center table. The Queen sat at the head and gestured for Alanna to sit at her right.
"If this is what you call much preparation, then you should see what we go through at the castle," Alanna spoke. Queen Jaidalee giggled.
"Your humorous comments will be very welcome tonight, Alanna. It has been long since we have had any humor." Alanna didn't know what to say.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Please, call me Jaidalee."
^~*~^ ^~*~^ ^~*~^
A/N: Well, what do you think of it so far?