Chapter Five: Memory... Deedlit's Dream
The city of Valis was a place of remembrance for Deedlit. She and the others of her party had arrived there nights ago, after the devastation of the great earthquake- another fulfillment of the old prophecy- and now, she feared for her son. And for the others. This enemy was unlike any they had ever fought before. Now, as the night air embraced her, Deedlit stood on the highest balcony. Remembering.
"Oh Parn," she said to the wind, "What would you do? You would probably face this Sorcerer head on, like before. I wish you were here now."
'I am here, Deed,' she heard his voice say. She turned around. Nothing there. But as she turned around an image seemed to be carried on the wind.
"Parn?" Deedlit asked, daring not to hope. The specter flew down to the balcony and embraced her.
"I've always been with you, Deed," Parn's soul said. "In all these years, I have never left your side."
"Oh Parn," she said, tears of newfound joy and old grief spilling over her cheeks, "I've had to endure all these years, raising our son, protecting our village all alone."
"I've been with you through ever hardship, Deed. I've seen Magnus grow into a strong young man, and I know he's doing the right thing. I know this is hard for you, but I want you to always remember me, Deedlit. Even if I can't be with you physically, I'm always with you in spirit. Will you wait for me Deed? I promise I'll be back for you.' Parn's image began to fade. Deedlit's heart began to break again. Not now! Not so soon!
"Wait!" she cried, "Parn, don't go!"
"Just a short time longer, my love," he said, his hand reaching to touch her face, though she could not feel it. "Wait for me?" he leaned to kiss her, but he was gone before their lips could touch. Her arms were empty, and her tears flowing.
"PARN!"
End Dream
Deedlit gasped as she sat up in the bed. A dream. Or was it? Had Parn really come to her? Was her time really that short that his soul would come to consol her in her final days?
"If I can be with him again," Deedlit said to the darkness, "Then I would gladly throw off this burden of immortality."
Transition
Before they entered the leafy green canopies of the south, Magnus stood within the shadows of the leaves, and played his fiddle, in a song of tribute to the wood, and the heroes who'd passed through it before. They had learned of the devastation that the battles had left in Kannon, and now they were to take a short cut through this enchanted forest. The last kingdom of the Elves of Lodoss.
"What's he doing now?" Orson complained.
"Barbarian!" Leaf yelled, striking him again. "He's paying homage to our Elven forefathers who tended the green of Lodoss, and tended the woods. If he doesn't offer the forest something, then it won't let us pass!"
"So he's making an offering?" Orson asked. "Then why didn't you say so? If it's an offering, then we should have given them fresh meat instead of a stupid song. Maybe they'll take you?" he sneered at Leaf. She had no qualms about hitting once more. Or maybe ten.
"The forest is pleased," Magnus said, putting his instrument away. "They'll let us pass safely. They recognize that my fiddle was made from one of their fallen brethren, and that my music honors his memory." The group of adventurers entered the green kingdom, the path sun dappled. They walked on for several miles before a voice ahead of them cried, "Halt! Who dares enter our realm?"
"Magnus, son of Sir Parn," Magnus answered.
"I am Leaf of Flaim." Leaf said. Suddenly, Elves leaped from the trees and shrubs, surrounding them on all sides. A captain of the Green, an Elf with long yellow hair, eyes like emeralds, and age beyond reckoning, came fourth.
"All Elf kind are welcome here," the captain said, "Even our distant cousins, the Grass Sprites."
"Al right!" Maar cheered.
"But what of these Men, and this Dwarf?" he asked.
"They are my companions," Magnus answered. "They're Elf friends."
"Then they're welcome as well." he said. "Come brother, sister, let us go to the great hall, eat, drink and be merry." The captain led them off the trodden path, and into the deep green of the forest.
"I thought Elf realms were bright," Ryna said as she pushed back tree branches.
"Most Elf lands are, but some prefer to keep their realms green and lush, even to the point of over growth. It's one of their defense mechanisms. This way, we of the green know the instant an intruder has entered." Magnus said.
"How do you know so much?" Gerrek asked.
"These are my people," he said. "This is the home of my people. This is my grandfather's domain. The High Elf Lords have blessed this place."
"Your grandfather!" Leaf exclaimed. "This is Deedlit's home?"
The captain turned and said, "Deedlit is my sister."
"You mean your fellow Elf?" Greebus asked.
"No, my blood relation," the captain said. "We have the same father. My name is Deedling."
"Then Magnus is your nephew?" Elska asked.
"He is, and all Elven kind are our brothers and sisters." said Deedling
"This is one crazy family," Maar said.
"Don't be so quick to judge, little cousin," Deedling told him with a smile. They journeyed farther an farther into the wood, until they came upon a sight few had ever seen. A castle made from living trees.. Their trunks and limbs intertwined into a fortress. Through small breaks in the bark, where the trees had failed to touch, or grow flowers, lights twinkled, giving hints of the activity within. The company and their escorts went across the bridge, and through the opening briar-rose doors.
They stood on the threshold of a great green hall, at the far side of which sat a great Elf Lord. His crown was decked with jewels that sparkled like stars plucked form the sky, and his long white hair hung down like a cape about his shoulders and back. And his robe was as dark a green as the grass growing beneath his feet.
"Welcome guests," his great, deepened voice said. It sounded as if a tree itself had spoken.
"Hi Grandpa," Magnus said casually.
"Magnus, my lad. You hardly come to see your old grandfather. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company this fine evening?" the Elf Lord asked.
"We have come on a quest," Magnus said, sitting on the floor at his Grandfather's side.
"Is it the same quest to find your father?" his Grandfather asked.
"No," Magnus answered, "A new one, on behalf of all Lodoss. I come with my friends, Princess Gemini of Flaim, and her warriors, my old friend Elska, Maar, and Prince Orson of the Dragon Riders. We are on our way to Marmo, to defeat the Sorcerer Knight."
"An old quest mingled with a new?" the Elf king asked. "Come, you must tell me more, my grandson, and I swear that if I or any of our kin can help you, we shall." They sat around a large feasting table, and there, Magnus and Gerrek explained to the Elf King about the prophecy, and the Sorcerer Knight's ambition, and earlier attack.
"I do not understand," Deedling said, "these creatures, though ordered to kill you, seemed to make no resistance when you fought them."
"That's been troubling me ever since we left the desert," Greebus said. "Though I am confident we travel with Myre's blessing, the opposition should have been far more difficult."
"Perhaps this Sorcerer only wished to distract you, so that he might attack the Princess Directly." the Elf King said.
"But why?" Magnus asked. "For his scheme to work, the Princess has to sing. Why would he attack her?"
"Probably to make her mind weaker," Ryna suggested. "I've seen Karla at work. She and this Sorcerer probably know about Gem's strong mind, and stubborn will. Maybe they're trying to break her spirit so Karla can take control of her more easily."
"We can't let that happen!" Maar cried. He looked to the Princess with sad eyes.
"We know Maar," Gerrek said, "We'll just have to up the security around Gemini."
Gem shook her head, and looked at Gerrek sternly. Then, Magnus spoke for her, saying, "She doesn't want to be babied. Gem wants to be able to fight the Knight on her own."
"But what if he captures her?" Leaf asked, concerned for her young friend.
"That's a chance she's willing to take?" Magnus said. "She wants to do her father proud. Show that his house is still strong."
"Then she will make a fine queen, for your human kingdom," Magnus's grandfather said, with a merry booming laugh. "Now, away with these troublesome matters. Let us eat, drink, and be merry this night."
As the Elf musicians struck up a jolly chord, Princess Gemini gave a thought to her Mother and Father. She wondered where they were right now. If they were safe. If they knew she was safe.
Transition
Queen Neese looked to the far south, along the long river that led to Kannon, and then to the island of Marmo. Her daughter was on her way to that island. That island, and possibly the castle, that still haunted her nightmares.
"Neese?" Spark asked her quietly, as he came up beside her. "What's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing," Neese said, hoping to mask her anxiety.
"I know you better than that," Spark said. "Tell me what's wrong, please?"
"I'm worried about Gem," she said.
"Don't be," Spark said. "She has the best protection in the world. She has Parn's son with her."
"But Magnus isn't like Parn," Neese said. "And I had the best protection, too. Look what almost happened... I nearly lost you, Spark!" she put her arms around her husband, and laid her head on his broad chest.
"We knew this would be difficult," Spark said, wrapping his own arms around Neese, his beautiful young wife. "But I have faith in her protectors. And I know that Magnus will show his true strength in time."
"Like you did?" she aske,d looking up into his chiseled, handsome face. He was no longer the boy whom she'd first met when she was but fourteen, but his eyes till sparked with mischief and a light heart. Why did his health have to be failing? Only last night, his coughs got worse. They'd been able to hide his illness from the people of Flaim. They looked to Spark for leadership, and stability. None knew that his heart was weakening, or of his chronic coughing fits. It was a side effect from his encounter with Nanill, and his struggle to save Neese. She felt the tears well in her eyes as she thought of how she could have prevented this. "Oh Spark," she said. "I'm so afraid! What if we find no cure for your illness? What if the Sorcerer takes our daughter? I couldn't bare it if I lost both of you!"
"Neese," he said softly. He lifted her chin up, and looked deeply into her eyes. " I swear, Neese, I will never leave you. I will always be with you, and I will never stop loving you. Not even death can part our hearts, my love."
"Oh... Spark," Neese said as her husband leaned down, and kissed his radiant souls mate.
Transition
As the others danced and feasted inside the great hall, Maar sat outside on a leafy green branch. He'd snuck away, after filling his belly with the delicious foods of the Elves, and now, he looked through the trees up to the bright, half moon. From inside he could hear the soft pluckings of harp strings and the hums of fiddle strings. Magnus and Gem were playing with the Elven musicians, and Maar heard in their song a resonance of light and joyful love.
But for the little Grass Runner, his heart was breaking. No one knew, but he was in love as well... He too loved Princess Gemini. Her music, her beautiful face, her kind heart- all these he loved. Yet she did not love him in return. He knew, as all knew, that she loved Magnus, and who could blame her? A half elf would beat a Grass Runner- doomed to immortality in the form of a child- any day. Maar lifted a flute, and he began to play a song. A sad song... full of longing.
Authoress's Note
Thanks to Black Robed One for some much needed info on RoLW. Hope you keep reading, and telling us where we go wrong
Review! Now!