Wendy II
Wendy spent most of the ride feeling sick, though not severely so. Strangely, it wasn't as bad as it usually was. When Wendy first got motion sick, she was riding a train back to Lamia Scale after a mission; right then, she suddenly had a great deal more sympathy to Natsu. But this time, it was more a general queasiness and discomfort, and Wendy was glad to be fully aware, so she could see what was flashing around her.
Riding on the stag, Wendy was awed at the forest they were passing through. They went over rivers, valleys, and ravines. It was a truly beautiful place, that Wendy wished she could've seen in different circumstances. The riders, including Asarith, seemed to be having no trouble holding onto their mounts that were darting through the foliage with no trouble at all. And yet they seemed to be only just able to keep up with Orion. The massive figure across the land somehow even easier than the stags, with the white hounds on his heels.
Eventually, they exploded out of the tree line, and Wendy looked up, she saw what they were approaching. It was the largest, and most spectacular tree Wendy had ever seen. It was so large, Wendy was surprised that she hadn't seen it earlier as they approached, as it made the rest of the trees in the forest look like shrubs. A glowing blue mist hung around its tops, as lights flickered through the leaves, and glowing symbols ran through its trunk. Surrounding the tree was a moat, save for a single strip of shallow water that lead up to the tree's base.
As Orion moved closer to the tree, the riders dismounted, bringing the girls with them, with Wendy being held by the collar. During the ride, Carla had turned back to normal. After some rather awkward explanations why the girl they had picked up was suddenly a cat, the two weren't so much lead, as they were pushed forward. Wendy looked around, and noticed more elves looking down at them. They all had long blonde hair, with similar fair features to the riders; but those fair faces were contorted with suspicious frowns. As Wendy moved forward, she found herself being drawn more to the tree. There was something about it, something….
"Stop," Asarith instructed, grabbing Wendy's shoulder as Carla stopped as well, "Outsiders cannot approach the Oak of Ages."
"'Oak of Ages'," Wendy murmured, as she looked back up at the tree. She watched as Orion waded into the shallow part of the moat, and fell to one knee, as he looked up, and held out his hand. The Dragon Slayer looked into the the canopy of the massive tree, before she saw a female figuring descending. Dressed in a long, bright green dress, the woman was beautiful in a severe way, with flowing blonde hair, and piercing purple eyes, that were just as wild as Orion's. But really caught the eye were the pink and gold butterfly wings that came out of her back, that seemed to release purple and gold glitter. As she approached Orion, he took her hand.
"My lady," he said, kissing it.
"I am glad to see you return, my love," the woman said, "I trust the hunt was a success?"
"We were able to slay the majority of the beasts, but I believe some still evades us," Orion answered, "But we also found these two outsiders." He gestured to Wendy and Carla, who looked up at the winged woman. She glared at them, as she floated past Orion, towards them.
"Kneel to our lady Ariel, the Queen in the Woods," Asarith instructed, as the girls promptly did as they were told. Ariel looked over the girls, as she landed before them, and circled them.
"Who are you, child?" she hissed.
"My name is Wendy Marvell, Ma'am," Wendy said, "And this is my partner, Carla."
"I don't care about the cat." Wendy would've told the queen off for that, but she looked at Carla, who just shook her head at the Dragon Slayer.
"Why are you here?" Ariel inquired, as she rubbed her fingers together.
"We were sucked into a magic vortex, and when we woke up here, we were in the forest." The Queen in the Woods look down at Wendy, narrowing her purple eyes.
"You are not lying," she muttered slightly, before asking, "Where do you come from?"
"From Fairy Tail, in Magnolia."
"Never head of either of them," Ariel said, "What country are they in?"
"They are in Fiore."
"Never head of such a place either," the Mage Queen said, as she floated away from Wendy slightly.
"What will you have us do, my Lady?" Orion asked, standing behind her. Ariel was silent for a time, as she apparently considered it, rubbing her chin.
"This girl has an aura that even I do not recognize," she finally said, "She comes from no land known to us, and she uses strange magic."
"Give the word, and I will end her here and now," Orion said, putting his hand on his spear. That made Wendy take a step back in anticipation.
"No," Ariel answered, holding up her hand, "This requires thorough study and consideration, so she will be kept here with her cat. No harm is to come to her, and she is not to be let out of our forest." Wendy wasn't sure how to respond to that, but she couldn't, as Ariel floated back up into the trees of the Oak.
"The Queen has spoken," Orion said, "No harm is to come to this girl while she is under the boughs of Athel Loren. She is also to be watched constantly, is that clear?" A resounding affirmation was called out.
"Now what are you still doing here, don't you have duties to do?" Orion ordered, before looking towards Asarith, "Seeing as you have been around this child the longest, you will steward her."
"Wait?" Wendy asked, "What are we supposed to do?" Orion just ignored her.
"You can do what you wish, so long as you do not trespass in our sacred locations," Asarith answered, "And don't worry, I will direct you away from them."
"Um, thank you?" Wendy asked, really not sure what to say in response.
"With that said, come," Asarith said, gesturing, "If you are to stay here, then you and you history must be understood. Now follow me." Really having no idea what to do, Wendy and Carla followed as Asarith, as he lead them towards the tree line.
Once they got there, Asarith banged his spear on his shield. After a few minutes, Wendy could see some movement in the trees, as something very large advanced on them, and soon it broke into the open. It was a giant walking talking… tree. There really wasn't any other way to put it. The being was humanoid in shape, but was made completely of wood, the body being made of gnarled pieces of wood. It had a humanoid face, with glowing eyes and a glowing mouth, with a long stream of moss that looked like a beard.
"San krali suja Asarith."
"Greetings Thilovakas," Asarith answered with a nod. Wendy had no idea how he understood that language, but she didn't say anything.
"Zu suto alta muus?" the tree asked, pointing to Wendy.
"It is," Asarith said, "She is to stay among us, so she must be understood. You will hear her." The tree looked at Wendy for a time, though it had no expression that Wendy could discern.
"Tell him about yourself," Asarith eventually said. Wendy didn't know how a tree was a "he", but figured she shouldn't think about it. With that in mind, she started describing herself: the way she arrived in the forest, her guild, and the fact that she was raised by a dragon. She figured that the treeman would probably know if she was lying, so she figured honesty was the best way. She then told Carla to do the same, and while it took some convincing, the exceed eventually did it.
"Marak alrant se. Zol malin darak ma."
"He's curious about the magic you wield," Asarith translated, "What is this 'Dragon Slaying Magic'?"
"Well," Wendy said, shifting on her feet, "Simply put, it allows me to take on the features and abilities of a dragon, namely a Sky Dragon. This includes healing."
"Henal za kras."
"What is the span of this healing ability? He's very interested in this." Thilovakas was silent, as it stroked its "beard". It then looked to Asarith.
"Rakna sa Durthu." Asarith blinked at that, taking a slight step back, apparently at the mention of this "Durthu".
"If I may ask, why?" he asked, "What could Lord Durthu do with her? At any rate, we would need the approval of the king." Thilovakas answered with more of his creaking language, and while neither of them could understand it, Wendy and Carla exchanged glances. Dearth seemed like someone powerful.
"Zalphas kel Durthu."
"Do you really think so?" Asarith said, before looking at Wendy briefly, "Could you use the magic on anyone or anything?"
"Um, well," Wendy said, trying to think, "I've never tried it beyond humans or exceeds like Carla, but maybe."
"If that's the case," Asarith said, "Preparations must be made."
"What sorts of preparations?" Carla asked.
"I'm not sure yet," was all the elf said, before departing. Thilovakas disappeared back into the trees, leaving the partners alone.
"So what do we do now?" Wendy asked.
"I certainly wish I knew," Carla answered.
Note: As you can no doubt read, this was mostly Wendy trying to settle more into the surrounding environment. Apparently she might be able to do something for Durthu, if Thilovakas is to be believed. This will be expanded upon soon.
Don't worry, action will come soon enough. The next story will be for Erza.
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