Wendy III
It had taken some convincing, but eventually Orion and Ariel were persuaded to allow Wendy to be sent to a place in the forest called Argwylon, where Durthu apparently dwelt. Wendy and Carla (who had taken her human form again), were now waiting to be taken to wherever that was.
"You'd expect them to be more punctual," Carla said, as she impatiently tapped her foot.
"Their elves," Wendy said, "I remember in the books Lucy would read to me sometimes, they're wise and far seeing."
"My point stands," Carla said, rolling her eyes. Wendy sighed, before looking to the sky.
"I hope the others are okay," she said. Carla looked at her before smiling.
"I wouldn't worry about them," she said, putting her hand on Wendy's shoulder, "They're all strong, I bet they can handle themselves just fine wherever they are." Wendy wanted to be as confident as Carla apparently was, but still had her worries. This was a strange place nobody knew anything about. She wasn't sure if even Natsu or Erza could aptly figure out what was going on.
It was as Wendy was thinking, that a shadow fell over them. The partners looked up, and saw possibly the last thing either expected.
"Its a…," Carla started.
"…dragon," Wendy finished. It was indeed a dragon. It had muddy green scales, and its wings were broad, and patterned in a similar way to butterfly wings. Atop its long head, were a pair of antlers, similar to a stag, and moss seemed to trail off its body. The dragon swooped down, and landed before them.
"You are the trespassers," the dragon said. Wendy wouldn't have put it like that, but that may have been what she and Carla technically were.
"It does not matter," the dragon said, not letting her answer, "I have been tasked with bringing you to Argwylon." It then lowered a wing, to allow the two to climb on.
"Get on. The sooner this is over, the better." Not inclined to argue, both girls climbed into the dragon's back, only having just enough time to get a good hold before it sprung into the air.
"What is your name?" Wendy asked.
"Why does it concern you?"
"No reason, I'm just curious."
"It is no concern of your's, human," the dragon growled, "Now do not speak to me. I have no interest speaking with trespassers."
"Don't be so rude!" Carla said.
"Its fine," Wendy said, smiling at her friend, "Its not as if I don't understand." Though it also wasn't as if she didn't agree with Carla. Would it have killed the dragon to be slightly more polite?
After sometime of flying, they reached a large cliff face, that was dominated by a massive, if not beautiful waterfall. Crisscrossing across the waterfall were trees and branches. The dragon flew them down to the base of the waterfall, where there was a pool with a small island in the center. On that island was a massive tree with a glowing amber center.
Gathered around the shores were battalions of not just elves, but also various tree men, as well smaller humanoid figures made of wood, that reminded Wendy of figures called "dryads". At the base of the tree in the center, stood Orion, leaning on his spear. Asarith was standing on a stone int he water. Wendy smiled at him, but the Wood Elf only looked at her nervously.
"So what now?" Carla asked. Wendy didn't have time to offer an answer, as one of the tree men stood in the water, before holding up his arms.
"Halka koth laran Athel Loren! Halka sont Argwylon! Halka Durthu!" With that, a chanting sounded out amongst the tree spirits, as the tree's trunk began to glow even brighter.
"Durthu!"
"Durthu!"
"Durthu!" With that, Durthu pulled himself out of the tree. While Wendy had seen a number of different tree people now, Durthu in particular was something to behold. He stood a good head and shoulders taller than the other tree spirits. But what really se this apart were the massive gashes on his face and body. Half of his face looked like it had been chipped off, and a long, ugly gash went across his chest. The tree spirits all bowed their heads, and even Orion briefly nodded to Durthu, who returned it. The tree man held out one of his arms,a s a series of vines reached down, and coiled around a large branch jutting out the ground. However, when he yanked it out, it revealed a brilliant sword made out of solid amber. As he waded into the water, and approached Wendy, the Dragon Slayer had to admit she felt thoroughly intimidated. Once Durthu got there, he bent down, and looked at Wendy.
"Elra su echkra?" he said, gesturing to Wendy.
"He asked who you are," Asarith translated.
"My name is Wendy Marvel," Wendy answered, before gesturing to Carla, "This is my friend, Carla." The humanoid exceed nodded at Durthu. The master of the tree spirits growled slightly.
"Itna sakal otl?"
"Why are you here?"
"Honestly, I don't know," Wendy said, "We came here by accident. We were with our friends in our guild, before some kind of magic vortex appeared, and pulled us into this forest."
"Itna lo hana su?"
"Why should I believe you?" Wendy really wasn't sure what to say in response to that. She had no real way of proving her story.
"I don't know how to prove it," Wendy said, "All I really have at this point is my word." Durthu growled at that, as he spun his sword through his hand, causing Wendy to take an instinctive step back.
"Itna graksia Thilovakas katna lo?" Durthu asked.
"Why did Thilovakas insist on you meeting me?" Wendy pondered that briefly, trying to think about what may have motivated this meeting. She remembered that Thilovakas first mentioned Durthu when Wendy explained her healing magic to him. Putting two and two together, Wendy got a good idea about what this whole meeting was about.
"I can heal you." All eyes were suddenly on her.
"Ar sca?" Durthu growled. Asarith did not immediately translate that, as he also stared at Wendy, until a shout from Orion got him to do it.
"He doesn't believe you."
"I'm not positive it'll work," Wendy said, "But my magic allows me to heal others."
"Wendy…," Carla said softly, grabbing her friend's shoulder, but Wendy shook it off.
"I can see your pain," the Sky Dragon Slayer said, "I've seen it before."
"Keko zun rakna?" Durthu asked. Upon hearing the translation, Wendy just sighed.
"I do know pain," she said, "Perhaps not the same scale you do, but I would be willing to tray and alleviate." Durthu growled, as he looked closely at Wendy. Another tree man approached Durthu.
"Durthu, eena sura crasna."
"Itna lo hana eena?"
"Keko sun dena." The two talked some more, though Wendy still couldn't understand a word they were saying (since Asarith didn't translate any of it). But whatever the debate was seemed to be annoying Durthu rather extensively, as he growled.
"El," Durthu finally said, before looking to Wendy.
"He agreed," Asarith said after a moment. Wendy had to admit she was surprised by that. She'd never thought Durthu would ever agree to such a thing. But regardless, Durthu had agreed, so Wendy began gathering her magic in her hands, before holding up. Durthu slowly lowered himself down to her level. With that, Wendy activated her healing magic.
The sight must have been truly amazing for the elves, as they watched in awe at the magic. Wendy just focused though, as she focused all her energy on Durthu. At first, it seemed that no progress was being made, but then she saw wood beginning to creep over Durthu's face and chest, closing up the massive gashes over his body.
Eventually, Wendy was done, as she collapsed back, and had to be caught by Carla.
"Don't expend so much energy like that, child!" Carla scolded.
"I'm sorry," Wendy said, before looking back the tree man. Durthu was silently for a time, before slowly he reached up to his face, stopping at first. Wendy could've sworn she saw amber tears dripping from his eyes.
"Its gone," Durthu said, now speaking English, "The pain is finally gone." He looked at Wendy.
"How?"
"I honestly don't fully understand," Wendy said at first, before smiling, "But I don't question the gifts I have."
"Thank you," Durthu said softly, "Thank you so much." Now she was certain amber tears were streaming from his face.
"I'm always happy to help," Wendy said, smiling happily. Looking around, she saw all the elves staring at awe. Even Orion had dropped his spear in shock.Durthu then gently took Wendy in his hands, and held her up in the air for all to say.
"Let it be known, that I hereby name this girl and her comrade, to be friends of the forest," Durthu proclaimed, "They will be welcome anywhere in Athel Loren, and should any spirit, elf, or beast bring them harm, they shall face my personal retribution." Roars of affirmation came from the various tree spirits, as they chanted Wendy's name.
"Wendy!"
"Wendy!"
"Wendy!" Wendy found it both humbling and embarrassing. Durthu then set her down. He reached into an opening in his side, and took out a piece of amber the size of a fist, and set in Wendy's hands.
"Keep this with you always, and if ever you are in peril, you need only call, and the forest will answer," Durthu promised.
"Thank you," Wendy said. That was when various spirits started gathering around her, as if being around her would give them some of her abilities. To the side, Carla just watched and sighed.
"This just made matters a lot more complicated," she said, rubbing her forehead.
Note: Wendy had just befriended Durthu himself, not to mention the master of the forest spirits has now been healed after eons.
Something some of you may have noticed, is some recurring characters in the stories aside from the FT ones. Such as Asarith for Wendy, or Itzaco for Lucy. That is completely intentional.
Please review. Next we'll see Cana. We're getting closer to the end of Part 1.