Chapter two: The heart of the forest
Poicano was in despair, he had no idea of how he was to save this female, she was slowly dying and the rest of the healers were in shock, they didn't really want to think about the things that had been done to her. He made medicine and managed to get it in her but it didn't seem to work at all, the ointments smeared onto the skin seemed to be very efficient but her insides were a whole different story. He knew that her body had been pushed too far, whatever she was, she didn't have the strength to fight anymore.
It was a great pity, she was a wonderful creature but he had no idea of exactly what she was. The more the healer learned the less he realized that he knew and this female was an enigma. She was something he had never encountered before and he was a very skilled person, with lots of knowledge gathered over the centuries. And yet he had never even heard of a species like this and it made him a bit humble but also determined. He had to save her, just to learn more about her.
The king often visited the healing ward now, he would stand there and stare at the female and he too was intrigued by her. He had a strange sensation of awe when he was near her, why he didn't know.
But her health was declining fast, she was barely breathing and everybody knew that she wouldn't make it. They could only try to make her last hours comfortable and Thranduil was once again sorry that he couldn't behead those men once more. They deserved every possible punishment for what they had done to her. The elves of the palace all knew of her by now and most were almost unable to even comprehend the things she had been through. Some were praying for her and others were just hovering around the healing ward, hoping to catch a glimpse of this mysterious being.
One of the counsellors had a young daughter who wanted to become a healer, she was way too young to start training yet but she had a very soft heart and she always tried to make life easier for others. She was always trying to help those with problems and even though it wasn't that much she could do of yet she had a sweet smile and tender words for everybody. She tried to help the dying creature the only way she could, she brought some flowers and hoped that they could cheer the female up, if she woke up before the end.
The flowers were alive, and the vase placed by the bed and the girl sat there for a while before she had to go. Poicano came to check on the female when he noticed something very odd. The flowers had withered, they were almost dead but the female looked better, her breath was steadier and her fever not so high.
He stared at the creature and then it hit him like a blow from a sledge hammer, this thing needed what every elf needs. Fresh air, sunlight, living things. He realized that she had drawn strength from the flowers and suddenly he was frantically shouting orders. The other healers brought other green plants to the ward, huge bushes and pots with flowers, it was all placed around the female and it was insane but she got better as they were watching her. Her breath got stronger, her color improved and Poicano was beside himself with relief. When she got even stronger he got some of the others to place her into a stretcher and they carried her out into the open. The king came walking by and he stopped, utterly confused by this spectacle. "What are you doing?"
Poicano was almost panting, he was rushing back and forth with wild eyes and a peculiar grin on his face. " Saving her, we have looked at the problem from the wrong angle the whole time."
Thranduil frowned. " What do you mean?"
Poicano gestured for the others to place the stretcher close to a huge elm tree, the sun was warm there and it was a very peaceful place. " It isn't as much what they did to her that has hurt her as what they haven't done!"
Thranduil was more than a little confused. " Ha?"
Poicano made sure they laid her next to the trunk of the enormous tree. " Imagine if you were imprisoned somewhere dark and dead, with no trees and no light? Wouldn't that have made you fade?"
The king nodded. " Most certainly, I would have died!"
Poicano grinned. " See? You just answered your own question!"
Thranduil stared at the creature. " Oh gods, she has to be even more dependent of nature than we are?"
The healer nodded. " Indeed she is, I bet being caged in itself could have killed her in the end."
Thranduil stared at the healer, and his eyes were a bit glassy. " So now what?"
Poicano turned around. " We wait!"
Thranduil tilted his head but he didn't answer, he just stared at the female that lay there, wrapped in a blanket. She didn't look good at all, but her breath was more even and she did look stronger. For many minutes nothing happened, then they all heard a strange sound, a sort of distant moaning and the trees were creaking as if a strong wind was ripping through their branches but the air was very still this day. Thranduil took a deep breath, he was very closely connected to the forest since he was the king, he could feel and communicate with the trees and now he was suddenly surrounded by their power in a whole new way. They had never been this present before, never this strong.
Their ancient voices were whispering, some were curious, others shocked. But they were strong, and there, so very present. The elves were nervous, they felt the intense atmosphere now, some returned to the palace just to be safe. Thranduil felt it like the energy in the air before a thunderclap, it made the hairs stand up at the back of his neck. He wanted to back off but felt that he couldn't, he had to see this, whatever it was.
The trees groaned, then he saw roots leaving the ground, slithering like snakes across the soil, branches bent and touched the female as the roots wrapped around her, gently and almost lovingly. " Sister…protector…herder… heal"
The voices were like a choir, mighty and yet soft, distant. The female groaned, the body shook and squirmed and she was surrounded by a strange green light that was strong but it didn't hurt the eyes at all. She was suddenly being lifted off the ground, hanging suspended in the air. It was like watching a tree grow from a sapling in just a few minutes, she got her hair back, her body lost the gaunt look and her skin became soft and healthy. She was returned to health in a matter of seconds and Poicano was standing there praying. Thranduil felt a need to kneel, this being was something very powerful, he realized that now.
The roots lowered her onto the ground again and let go and she just lay there, didn't move. Poicano waited until the branches and roots had retracted before he slowly went over and knelt down beside her. He touched her hand slowly and softly and she jerked and opened her eyes with a shriek. The eyes were deep green and filled with a peculiar light. Thranduil had never seen the likes of that gaze before, it contained so much power and yet so much hurt and pain. She lifted her head and saw the elves and the trees, she didn't appear to believe her own eyes.
Poicano smiled at her, very gently. " You are safe young one, we saved you from those humans, do you understand what I am saying?"
She just nodded, her eyes still scared and she let her hands slide across her skin, as if in disbelief. Poicano tried to keep his voice firm and yet gentle. " Do you remember anything?"
She nodded again, her expression one of disbelief but she stretched out a long elegant arm and touched a flower by the side of the healer and it looked as if the plant was leaning into the touch. She smiled, there was awe in the smile, and relief. (Thank you)
Her voice could be heard in their head, she was speaking through telepathy and Thranduil realized that she probably was a mute. Poicano offered her a hand. " Now young one, I must insist that you come with me inside, you are not completely healed yet, I think you still need some help"
She cocked her head, for a moment she looked very confused. (Where?)
Thranduil stepped forth. " You are in Mirkwood young one, among the wood elves."
She let Poicano lift her, she was still a bit weak and wobbly and now that she was looking more normal it was apparent that she was very tall. (Woods? Good)
Her voice was distant, almost dreamy and they realized that this was a creature that didn't think the same way as they did. She was very different indeed. Thranduil took a deep breath. " What are you young one, where are you from?"
The female looked at him, her eyes were so soft and yet they harbored a terrible power, he saw it now. ( What? Dryade.)
Thranduil frowned. " A dryade? I have never heard that word before"
Poicano shook his head. " None have, I don't think she originates from our world at all, I think she is from some other place. I would have known if there were creatures like her roaming the forests."
Thranduil nodded. " So would I, and the avari elves would most certainly have encountered her kind if they were of middle earth."
Poicano carried her back inside and she didn't look as if she really liked the idea of being indoors. Poicano gently stroked her by now very lovely green hair. " Do not worry, we will take very good care of you, do you have a name?"
She closed her eyes, sighed. (Name? No name!)
Thranduil stared at her in disbelief. "Didn't the humans who kept you even bother naming you?!"
She made a mewling sounds. (Humans…humans wicked)
Thranduil made a grimace, a very good observation. " I know, they gave you no name at all?"
She opened her eyes again, they were so terribly sad. (It, I was it)
Poicano groaned. " Oh gods, that is terrible!"
Thranduil followed them back to the ward, Poicano placed her in the bed very gently and she smiled but there was still fear in her face and she looked nervous. " You are safe here, no humans who wants to hurt you."
She pulled the blankets closer around herself. (Humans hurt me, no light, no trees, no life)
Thranduil felt how he almost choked on emotions, he was so furious and so in shock of it all and there was such compassion within his heart. He wanted to make sure that she would remain safe forever. "I know, they were hurting you, but you are free now"
She sighed, stared at her own hands as if she was seeing them for the first time. (Free, yes)
Poicano had ordered one of the other healers to get some soup for her and she stared at the bowl and the spoon with narrow eyes. (Food?)
Poicano nodded. " Yes, food, soup. It is made from vegetables by the way, I doubt that you eat meat?"
She nodded and put the bowl in front of herself, grasped the spoon with a curious expression in her eyes. (No meat no, plants good)
She tasted the soup and it was obvious that it was to her liking, she emptied the bowl rather fast and burped afterwards.
Poicano took the bowl. " Sleep now, you need rest. We can talk afterwards."
She tilted her head, yawned. (Afterwards, sleep now, yes)
Thranduil felt a bit confused by the way she expressed herself, but it could be that she just hadn't learned to talk at all, that this was all she could do. He smiled at her and turned around, left for his own rooms. Poicano remained sitting by the bed until she slept and then he too retired, he was tired and it was such a relief to see that she was getting better.
Thranduil was fast asleep but suddenly he realized that he was dreaming, and it was a strange dream. He was staring at something he never could have imagined, a sort of landscape that was very alien to him. It was black and charred and dead but in the distance there was a sort of line, and it was moving forth. As it got closer he saw that it was a forest, and it was actually on the move?!
He had of course met ents, and he knew that Yavanna had awakened the forests of old, there were still walking trees in middle earth but not entire woods? He saw giants moving among the trees, entlike creatures that were both more human looking than an ent and in some ways also less humanoid. The trees were making a rumbling sound and it was awful, so filled with anger. Among the trees he saw riders, all wearing the same uniform over gleaming armor and they rode large beautiful horses and their faces were stern and determined.
The king was squirming, he felt frightened and confused. This was not middle earth, this was some other world and he was about to watch a battle begin.
There was a strange noise in the air, a sort of distant wailing, and then dark creatures seemed to pop out of the charred ground everywhere, terrible abominations that made even an orc look cozy. They were everywhere, some were huge and they carried weapons and torches and fire started to rain from the skies above. He saw shadows flying through the smoke, dragons?
The battle had begun, trees were rushing forth and creatures were being crushed or torn apart, the ent like creatures were using huge clubs and the knights had some sort of magic for they threw orbs of light towards the enemy and it made them disintegrate.
The rumble and noise was deafening and Thranduil had fought too, many times. He did see that this battle was coming to a standstill, there was nobody winning or losing, the opponents were of equal strength. Dust and smoke filled the air and he heard cries and screams from the wounded. It appeared that the dark forces could be on the verge of getting the upper hand when something happened. A rider rushed out into the middle of the battle field, and he carried something in his arms. The bundle was unwrapped and he saw that it was a creature like the female. She dropped to the ground, the moment her feet touched the dry dust the earth shook, it trembled, screamed, bucked like an untamed horse. There was a scream from the enemy, suddenly they all tried to flee but to no prevail. What had been destroyed was repaired, trees shoot out of the burned earth, vines spun around the enemy and choked them, beasts were painfully transformed back to the peaceful animals they had been.
The female stood there proudly, her head held up high and her eyes glowing like twin suns. It was a most majestic sight and before long the battle was over, the enemy was obliterated, returned to its natural state. The burned charred wasteland was once more a lush forest and the remaining knights gathered and the creature stood there still. They bowed for her and then she appeared to disappear, it was as though she slid through the very ground and became one with the very land itself.
Thranduil woke up with a start, if the female in the ward was this powerful then by the Valar she was strong, and she couldn't be exposed to any dangers. It took quite a while before the king managed to get back to sleep.
The next morning Poicano was pleased to see that she was recovering very well, she looked almost completely healed but he realized something when he stared at her face. She had recovered physically but her memories were a different problem. She was probably never going to get over those experiences.
There was such sadness in those eyes and Poicano just hoped that she wasn't like an elf who can fade from such trauma. Thranduil came to visit after breakfast and he sat down by her bed and tilted his head, tried to look calm but there were worry in those piercing blue eyes. " I hope you have rested well young one? "
She smiled but the smile was sad, distant, there was agony in her eyes. (Rest, yes)
The king took a deep breath of air and leaned forth. " I had a dream this night, of battle and war, light against darkness. Forests on the move, powers I cannot even begin to understand nor describe. But there was one like you there, a dryade"
She turned her head towards him, so fast, like the lash of a whip. (Yes, others, otherwhere, sense them, sisters)
He swallowed. "That is good, ah, do you remember anything at all, of how you got here I mean?"
She stared straight at him, it made him feel a bit nervous. (Memories…dark)
Thranduil gasped and jerked, his head was suddenly flooded by memories, terrible ones. The first ones were not too bad, the female remembered living with some old humans who took good care of her but then she was sold and put out on display like some beast and then when she got older the real nightmare began.
Thranduil moaned, he could see it, see it all, and he also felt her despair and confusion, her fear. She had never met anything except fear and hatred and didn't know of anything else, but the core of her was pure, untainted. It was made from pure light and could not be corrupted in any way. He saw the men who sold her, saw those who bought her body for a moment of pleasure, saw how they treated her like a thing, like a piece of flesh readily available and he felt sick, felt like retching. Some of the images were so terrible he almost passed out.
He didn't realize that he had passed out until Poicano shook him. " My liege? Are you alright?"
Thranduil shook his head, he swallowed again and again to prevent himself from retching. " Oh Gods, it was…Morgoth himself could not have been this cruel."
Poicano stared at his king with wide eyes, Thranduil was ashen grey and trembling. " What do you mean?"
Thranduil managed to let out a sort of squeaking sound. " She showed me everything, all her memories, I…I have no words…"
Poicano grasped a cup and poured it full of wine, gave it to the king who emptied it in one go. He coughed and some color returned to his face. " I saw…she has had a child Poicano, they tried to make her lose it but failed and when the baby was born they…"
Poicano was turning grey too now, Thranduil was breathing as if he had been running for hours. "They killed it, they just bashed its head against a rock, Eru, they were monsters"
The female had put her arms around herself, she was rocking back and forth. (Dark minds, dark thoughts, no light, only wealth)
The elf cringed. " True words young one, but you are free now, you may stay here for as long as you like"
She sighed, sent him a soft but sad smile. (Will return, must return, cleansing.)
Poicano frowned. "What do you mean?"
She tilted her head and closed her eyes. (Return to the trees, to the ground, be whole, forget)
Thranduil took a deep breath. " I…I am sorry to hear that, but…you will still be here right? You won't…die?"
She shook her head. (Never die, no dying, one with the land, move through it, live through it, breathe with the trees, fight with the trees)
Poicano looked intrigued. " You will fight with the trees?"
She nodded, there was a glimpse of pride in her gaze. (Yes, fight, protect, my duty, my task, my will)
Thranduil swallowed. " I saw a dryade fight in that dream, if she does the same then may Eru have mercy upon everybody trying to hurt the woods."
Poicano stroked her hair. " Not yet I hope?"
She shook her head, there as something akin to longing in her eyes.( Strong soon, then joining)
Thranduil felt sad somehow, she would leave them and it didn't feel good, why he didn't know but he knew that she would be on their side. " I am very glad to hear that you will protect the woods, we need a helping hand, but I will be sad to see you leave"
She smiled and touched his long hair almost teasingly. (No sad, glad! Will visit, be here, you safe)
The king smiled at her. " I am very grateful young one"
She cocked her head once more and laid back towards the pillows. (Rest, then join the woods. Grateful, you freed me, protect you)
Poicano rearranged her blankets. " I am very glad to hear that, rest now, I will have more soup ready for you in a while."
She had a dreamy expression on the strange but beautiful face (Soup good)
Thranduil got up, he felt a bit humbled by it all but he did also understand, she would fade if she stayed there, stayed in this form. The memories too strong, too devastating. In her true form she would be able to heal completely and he wouldn't prevent her from doing that but it was so very sad in a way. That they had saved her only to discover that she didn't have any choice but to let herself become one with the forest, like a houseless fea.
The next two days she stayed in bed and ate and recovered and the third day she got out of the bed and demanded to be released from the healing ward. She was well now and Thranduil was a bit shocked by the change. She was suddenly strong and elegant and moved with a sort of hidden power that reminded him of a huge cat. There was an eager glimpse in her eyes and Poicano told the king that she had suffered from terrible nightmares the last nights. She had to do this, it was her only option if she didn't want to lose her mind.
She got out of bed and before Poicano had even asked anyone for a robe she had somehow created a dress out of nowhere, of some strange shimmering green fabric. Elves were gathering as she slowly walked out of the palace and Thranduil felt that they had done the right thing by saving her and yet he wished that she could have stayed longer, he so much wanted to learn more about her but maybe he would in time, when she visited. There was a huge group following her as she approached a clearing in the woods. A very large willow stood there in the middle of it and the tree shivered and its long branches stretched and caressed her lovingly. She giggled and looked at the elves again, the eyes like wells filled of endless wisdom. (Grieve not, getting well, getting whole, becoming…me)
She began to glow and Thranduil dared to touch her hand. " I am honored to have met you"
She giggled again. (Elves fair, elves good, love elves. Protect yes. Return whence needed yes, visit)
She leaned forth and kissed his cheek gently. (Like you, pretty tall one)
There was a glimpse of mischief in her eyes and he bowed his head, a bit overwhelmed. "You will forever be welcome here among us young one"
She smiled and nodded. (I know, she is calling for me… Got to go)
She stepped away from them and the glow got stronger. For a moment Thranduil was sure he saw another figure inside of that shining light, also a female, he swallowed. Yavanna? Most certainly! The dryade lifted her arms above her head, stretched herself towards the skies and she suddenly changed, looked more and more like a tree, and then she sort of slid into the very stem of the huge willow, as if she indeed became one with the tree.
Thranduil heard the forest gasp, then there was a silent cry of joy, a gasp of ecstasy and hope and the elves all fell to their knees in awe and wonder. The trees let their branches sway, he was sure he heard a voice among the sounds, a soft and gentle voice overflowing with relief. She was at home, she was whole, she was what she was meant to be.
The elves slowly returned to the palace and Poicano was close to tears, he had felt a presence so strong it had almost knocked him out and so had the rest too. Thranduil just hoped that she would return to them in one way or the other. He didn't want to forget about her.
A few years later he woke up in the middle of the night and knew he wasn't alone in his rooms, and he recognized the presence too. It was the female, and she was sitting on the railing to his balcony singing something that sounded sweet and yet sad. He just stared at her until she disappeared with a grin.
The elves started to notice that they were being watched, something warned them of danger, hindered orcs and spiders from reaching the palace. Orcs were found pierced by branches or impaled upon roots, pulled apart or strangled by vines. Spiders were found having suffered similar fates and Thranduil did know that she indeed was there still, a part of the woods.
Sometimes the elven king would walk through his woods alone and then the branches would reach for him, caress his hair or his hands and he would smile and return the favor. Her protection was very welcome and she would never leave these woods but see to their well-being forever more. The last dryade had come home at last, and the elves had gained an ally with powers not even the dark lord himself could anticipate. The creature in the cage had emerged from its misery like a phoenix and even after the elves left middle earth those woods were regarded as special, as sacred. Nobody dared to venture into the heart of it, for there resided a creature of such powers all others seemed weak in comparison.
