Thanx for the FB!
Chapter 2
Now, that I grew in power and years, sometimes I still wonder, what would have happened differently, if I stayed in that inn that night with Max and Michael.
We did not save the world. We haven't liberated any countries from oppression. Our names won't get into the volumes of history. We crossed the paths of a few villains, that's true, and mostly we came out victorious. But did what we did, in the end, really matter ? I don't think so.
But all the same, it was one hell of an adventure, that I'm about to share with you. I've survived and I'm glad for it. Not everyone was so lucky. The life rhythm of the Faes is not for mortal men to follow. So caveat lector! Don't get any foolish ideas and go to seek out Them! The paths that lead to the elven realms are forgotten for a good reason.
There are the most beautiful places I've ever seen, but they hold as much danger as beauty, and. Don't say I didn't warn you, if you get yourself tangled up in web of the faeries terminally and without a chance of escaping!
And with that, let me really begin my story, a story of high adventure, heroes and villains, magic and mundane, elves and humans. A story about love and loss.
A story about Faes and their Foes.
Foreword from the memoires of Archmage Alexander Library of the Academy
Wizard Alexander
'What do you reckon, I ask Michael.
'No way. Lord Harding would sooner eat dung than give her hand to him'
'He can't simply deny his request. He saved her life not once, but twice'
'Well, we shall see. Any minute now.' He glances at the double door(s?) of the audience chamber for the hundredth time. Max has been in for half an hour, and there is still no sign of him. Though I love the guy, you have to admit his chances are slim at best. My current employer is a stingy old miser, and won't let his sole, precious daughter marry a nameless knight, no matter how noble he is in his heart.
The door wings swing open and Max steps out. His expression is neither joyful, nor downright rejected, I'd stay he looks determined. Michael jumps up from the stone-bench we've been sitting on. 'How did it go?', he asks impatiently.
'Better than I imagined. He is ready to announce our engagement,' he says slowly.
'That's excellent news Max, isn't it'
'But first I have to prove my prowess with a heroic act'
'A heroic act? Haven't you proved yourself enough times already? On the bastions of Castle Eger? At the battle of Whitefort?' Michael is clearly outraged. I think a step further. Why would Lord Harding demand something like this from him? Unless… 'What do you have to do Max?', I ask, suddenly suspicious. 'He'll give me Tess's hand, his lands and his castle if I provide him with a worthy bride's price'
'And you agreed'
'Of course! It is only proper'
'And what is worthy of Tess's hand according to him?' I ask, already dreading the answer.
'The brightest jewel of the Elven Kingdoms.' (Is it too apparent that it'll be Liz)
'That is impossible! There are no such things as faeries!' Michael's bellowing voice fills the courtyard as we step outside. I place my hand on his arm.
'Calm down, Michael. There must still be faeries in the northern wilderness. Their kind is long-lived, and has deeper roots than us, younger races. But it's still absurd. Why would he set such infeasible task'
'Search me. But there's no quest to dangerous, no obstacle too difficult to overcome if the prize is Lady Theresa's hand! I love her more than my life, my friends'
Before he could really get into it, Michael interrupts him.
'So, what are we waiting for? Which way is fairyland'
'No, Michael, thanks but no. This quest is for me alone'
'Don't worry, I don't want to steal your Tess, I'd rather take on a dragon one-on-one than to marry her.' That wasn't really polite of Michael, but I basically agree with him. I've never understood why he fancies her. She is a mean little bitch, while Max is a true Paladin. Love is truly blind.
'Yeah, you'll need us. Besides, this job sucks with anyways. A trip to faerieland, nowthat would make a change!'
The next few days became blurred in my memory. We were preparing all night and day for the departure. I informed Lord Harding, that I wish to leave his services for an indefinite time, and drowned myself in the library, trying to gather every tidbit of knowledge available about the mystical race of elves. There wasn't much to find. The last time when men definitely saw elves was in the Demon War. They came out of Forest and down from their castles in the clouds, riding pegasii and unicorns, charging right into the back of the demon army. They've won the battle and turned the course of the war, then disappeared again like mists in the morning. After the Prince of Darkness was defeated, High King Elcarion issued a royal decree that no human is to enter the Forest or the highest peaks of the Arg'Shaza mountains. And no one had. But that was more than nine hundred years ago. Since then – nothing. Not a trace that the Fae Folk still walks this Earth. But they had to go somewhere, hadn't they? And they are certainly long-lived. More accurate would be to say immortal – at least according to the legends.
The legends also say that they can only be killed permanently by cold iron, forged without any heat whatsoever. Steel and regular iron blinds them and binds them as well, but even a touch of cold iron can leave the greatest of the elvenkind weak and powerless. This seems to be a bit of an exaggeration to my ears, but who knows? Legends usually have a bit of truth to them.
What worried me, was that I know practically nothing of their magic. Children's tales tell us of illusions, tricks and deceits, but they are an old people, far older than humanity. They were born when the world was younger and rich with Wild Magic. Heck, they are magic born to life. The more time I spent in the library, the more worried I became about this adventure; instead of finding solutions, I became more and more convinced that we stand no chance.
