Chapter 1
1 November 1981, 11:55 pmHidden among the branches of a large evergreen, he watched the long-bearded one place the baby on the doorstep. He waited until he was sure that the ancient wizard, the shape-shifter, and the half-giant were gone.
He dropped silently from the branch and cautiously crept across the well-kept lawn, keeping to the shadows, until he reached the child. The boy still slept. He reckoned Old Long Beard had placed an enchantment on the child; otherwise the thin blanket would not have kept him warm against the cold November wind.
As he reached down to take the baby, the child's eyes opened. Large, round emerald eyes, framed by thick black lashes, gazed up at him. There was no fear or confusion in those enormous green orbs, only curiosity.
He smiled reassuringly, and then took the boy in his arms. "Come, child," he whispered. "Your destiny does not lie here." Silently, he carried the baby into the shadows.
Surrey was a long walk from the nearest forest, but there were still a few hours until sunrise. It felt strange to walk in the open without trees for shelter, feeling hard roads of stone beneath his deerskin boots rather than the soft, moist soil of the forest. He wondered how non-magical beings could live in such ugly structures built so close together. He shook his head in sorrow at the limbless tree trunks with thick, black ropes connecting them as far as the eye could see. Some had odd-looking lights stuck near the top. Grass grew only in small squares in front of and behind the structures, though most of them had a tree within the square and strange plants and blossoms, which had been forced to grow in circles or rows. Many of the grassy areas were enclosed by wood, stone, or wire to prevent anyone from entering.
"It is good to be leaving this place," he said to the child in his arms. "You would not be happy here."
As first light began to dawn over the forest, two figures entered a small glade. One was tall and slender. He wore deerskin trousers, tunic, and boots. A quiver of arrows hung on his back; his bow rested across his shoulder. His skin was still bronzed from the past summer's sun. The large almond shaped eyes were silvery blue, and the brows, several shades darker than his hair, turned up slightly at the temples. His long pale hair shone almost white in the morning light. The sides had been pulled back and tied with a leather thong over the back, which had been left free and reached almost to his waist. But it was the small pointed ears that marked him as an elf.
In one arm, he carried a small human boy, little more than a year old. The child's hair was black, sticking out in all directions—green eyes, wide and curious, head turning right and left, trying to look everywhere at once. The young boy was dressed in blue cotton-wool one-piece pajamas that covered him from neck to toes. He was wrapped in a small green blanket bordered with blue rabbits and yellow ducklings.
The elf sat down beside a small stream and placed the child on his knee. He pulled a cup from a pouch on his belt and, filling it from the stream, gave the child some water to drink. "Our journey is almost over," he said softly. "And then we will have breakfast."
The boy finished drinking and spoke for the first time. "Where mummy?" he asked.
"Mummy and Daddy are in the Summerland," the elf answered. "You will be with me now."
"Mummy hurt?" he asked.
The elf gave the child a gentle smile. "No. Not anymore."
The boy looked thoughtful for a moment. "Pa'foot?"
"I don't know Pa'foot. Is that your friend?"
The boy nodded. "Pa'foot. Mooey," he said.
The elf supposed that Pa'foot and Mooey were toys or pets that had belonged to the child. "I'm not sure where Pa'foot and Mooey got off to," he said. "But I am sure they are quite safe."
This seemed to satisfy the child, and he took another drink from the cup.
After a few moments of rest, the elf stood, lifted the child, and walked back into the forest.
It was mid morning when they reached the bottom of a steep cliff at the side of a mountain. The elf placed his hand on the solid stone and spoke: "Kea Mithrael dina Lothair." An opening appeared in the stone, and the elf pushed it open. They stepped into a dark cave, and the stone immediately closed behind them.
One shaft of bright light shone from an opening at the top of the cave. The elf and child stood in its beam, unable to see anything beyond it. "I am Mithrael son of Lothair," the elf said. "I have returned from my quest."
Slowly, the shaft of light began to fade and sconces along the cave walls came to life. Their eyes adjusted quickly. Surrounding them were a number of elves with their bows drawn. All had the same pale hair and were dressed similarly to Mithrael. When they saw the new arrivals, they lowered their weapons. One, which seemed to be the leader, came forward. "Is this the Child of Prophecy?" he asked, nodding his head toward the boy.
"Yes," he answered.
"The Queen wishes to see you immediately. You may take the child and go."
Mithrael bowed slightly, and then grinned when he saw the boy in his arms bow also. The elves chuckled as he carried the child to the back wall of the cave. Again, he put his hand on the stone surface and spoke the same words he had earlier. And, again, an opening appeared. This time, they walked into a large valley, surrounded by forest. A spring ran through the land from the side of the mountain. Despite it being the beginning of November, the weather was warm, the forest was green, and wildflowers grew everywhere. Unicorns, winged horses, hippogriffs, and other magical creatures roamed the lush green meadow, feeding on the foliage and drinking from the stream. The wildlife ignored the two as they made their way to the forest.
The boy's eyes were wide, filled with excitement as he spied the animals. He pointed to one and gasped, "Nu-horn!"
The elf smiled. "Yes, that is a Unicorn," he said. "You have seen one before?"
The child, not taking his eyes off the wonderful animal, nodded his head. "Me wide?" he asked.
"Not now," the elf said. "First we must see the Queen. Then we will eat. You may ride later, if the unicorn agrees."
Word had obviously reached the others that Mithrael had arrived with the Child of Prophecy. A crowd had gathered around Eldartha, the oldest tree in the forest. They watched as Mithrael carried the boy past them. The Queen, surrounded by the Elders, sat on a large stone in front of Eldartha. Mithrael went to her, stood the child down beside him, and took his hand. He bowed deeply, and then sank to one knee.
The elves smiled with amusement as they watched the boy do the same. However, the toddler was unable to balance himself on one knee and tumbled over. The Queen and the assembled crowd hid their chuckles, watching the boy get up and try again. After another fall, he sat down on one leg and extended the other in front of him balancing himself with one hand on the ground and the other on Mithrael's thigh.
The boy looked up at the elf beside him and grinned proudly. The elf grinned back and winked at him.
The Queen cleared her throat. "You may speak, Mithrael dina Lothair," she said.
"Your Majesty, I have returned from my quest. This child is—"
"Me Hawwy!" came a small, yet loud, voice beside him.
This time, the crowd could not hide their amusement. Light laughter rippled through the forest. The Queen stood and, smiling down at the young child, knelt down in front of him. "Well, Harry, would you like to sit with me?"
The boy looked at Mithrael for permission, then nodded to the Queen. She took his hand, and then sat on the stone, placing the boy on her lap. "You may rise, Mithrael dina Lothair." The elf stood, but kept his head bowed.
"Harry," the Queen said. "We are elves. Do you know what that means?"
Harry nodded and pointed to her ear. The Queen smiled. "Yes, our ears are different. How did you learn about elves?"
"Mummy weed," he said.
"Your mummy read to you about elves?"
He nodded. "And Daddy."
"You are a very clever boy," she said.
Harry nodded his agreement. "Me wide nu-horn!" he said excitedly.
The Queen frowned in confusion. "Nu-horn?"
Mithrael bowed deeply. "If I may explain, Your Majesty?"
"Yes, please," she said.
"Harry saw the unicorns in the valley and wishes to ride them."
"Ah," she said, finally understanding. "Unicorn. Yes, Harry, you may ride the unicorns if they agree." She motioned to her daughter who stood among the crowd. When she approached, the Queen spoke to her softly, and the Princess nodded.
"Harry, would you like to go with Princess Elsbeth and have breakfast? Mithrael and I will join you in a moment."
Harry nodded, slid down off the Queen's lap, and took the hand of the beautiful Princess. "Bye-bye!" he said, waving to the Queen and the assembled crowd. Laughing, they all waved back, calling bye-bye to the little boy. Then he and the Princess entered the palace.
The Queen turned back to Mithrael with a fond smile. "It seems that human children are less reserved than Elven children," she said.
Mithrael nodded. "He is quite talkative."
"You are sure that he is the child?"
"I am, Your Majesty. The Dark Wizard marked him when he cast the green death curse. It hit the child's forehead, marking him with the lightening bolt shaped scar over his right eye, then reflected back to the Dark Wizard."
"The Dark Wizard has been destroyed?"
"I do not think so. The curse destroyed the body, but the soul lingered. It was very dark, ancient magic."
"How did the child survive the curse?"
"Also ancient magic, but of the light. The father sacrificed himself to save his mate and son, and then the mother sacrificed herself for the child, fulfilling a blood magic ritual. She must have feared that the Dark Wizard would find the child and had prepared for it."
"And the other child?"
"His home was undisturbed."
The Queen nodded, then smiled. "Harry is a clever boy."
"He is," the elf said, smiling proudly. "He has lived only 15 moon cycles, yet he understands and communicates, though his use of words is very limited."
"Yes, but that will make it easier to teach him both languages. He must learn both Elven and English. You must teach him our ways, Mithrael, for the prophecy to be fulfilled."
"I will, Your Majesty."
The Queen rose and extended her hand to the younger elf. "Come, Mithrael. Let us have breakfast and we will talk of your coming nuptials and the solstice ceremony."