by Wolf Golan
She walked passed him and continued onward. As the caravan followed and passed him, he looked and examined them. Max felt uncomfortable as he walked by him but continued.
They reached an entrance at the end of the long hallway, it had a small staircase.
They entered and came before a winding stairwell wrapped around a small mountain. Below was a bottomless dark cliff. Queen Ainera started up the stairs in her usual casual, calming manner, and the rest followed hesitantly as usual.
“Careful my Queen!” her Knight Guard called out to her.
“Yeah,” Max added.
“Its fine, it is not but a climb.” She replied without turning.
Max felt a little vertigo, trying his best not to look over.
They reached the top of the stairwell and crossed another stone bridge entering another domed hallway. It was narrower. The walls had blue shaded marble this time, the strange but beautiful lighting effect remained.
Raidins in navy colored robes walked slowly by them.
They reached another staircase, but a long one this time. The staircase ascended a distance and appeared steep toward the top. It was dark with mostly the door above providing the light.
“I only want Max to accompany me. The rest of you wait here.” Queen Ainera commanded.
The Knights bowed and stood firm.
She took off her jacket and left on her red corset.
Max took his jacket off too, giving to a nearby Knight.
A loud sigh sounded. Max turned to see Queen Ainera started up the staircase. He ran over and up it to catch up to her, as she already climbed a few steps. Max grabbed her arm and she took it, smiling. They held each other as they continued up.
Despite the daunting stairs, the Queen seemed eager to meet the Raidin Queen.
They climbed and climbed.
Max made the mistake of looking down once and saw the base of the stairwell over a hundred feet below, he turned forward and shook it from his head.
The stairs got steep and Max worried about the Queen, but they slowly climbed it.
“Be careful my Queen,” Max said.
Max got so worried about her, he bent forward to hold the stairs to better stabilize them. It was almost as if he started crawling. He was too afraid of the Queen slipping and the entire world losing its Queen to the vast darkness below. However, she seemed to climb it so easily.
They paused and rested, both panting.
Max stared at the ground panting.
The Queen stood a few moments catching her breath. Max turned to her and gave him a cordial smile and she began laughing. Max joined with a chuckle.
“O my! I have to do more walks!” She said, still panting. “I used to walk all the time in the forest, but I don’t anymore.”
Max stood up nodding.
Max liked her. She was a gorgeous older woman who still had her charm. She could easily woo young men if she wanted, Max thought. She had the charm, wit, and beauty.
“Come,” she said waving him onward as she continued into the long hall awaiting them ahead.
He breathed once more and followed her.
They entered domed hall and this time, it had blue shaded marble with sparkles here and there, it was also wider. The air felt cool and smelled of pure flora from the surrounding forest. Max had never smelled a forest aroma so pure and sweet. It made him want to stay forever.
The giant hall snaked left then right, until it brought them to the last corner.
They cleared the wall to see hundreds of Raidin Soldiers standing in a giant domed room. They stood peering at them and it was very uncomfortable, and even a little threatening. Max saw General Tywor stand in front of them, holding the hilt of his sword.
Max lit up at the sight of him and smiled.
He gently bowed to Max.
Beyond Tywor and his Raidin army, a raised platform supported the throne of their Queen, Eralon.
General Tywor stepped forward to meet them, as they approached. He had his armor and headpiece just as Max remembered him in the Woodlands.
“It's nice to see you again Tywor.” Max said with a cheery smile.
Tywor looked at him and slowly nodded, as if the greeting was awkward.
“You know one another?” Queen Ainera commented, shifting between them.
“Max assisted me in stopping the Rourd Army with the Waywongs.” General Tywor replied.
Queen Ainera raised her eyes at Max, as if seeing him for the first time.
“Oh wow!” She smiled, delighted at the story.
Max smirked and shrugged it off.
“May I help you Queen Ainera?” General Tywor asked.
“We're here to see your Queen.” Ainera answered,
“Matters of state.”
“It has been many winters since we've seen the Baelyin Queen.” General Tywor replied.“ We are honored by your presence.”
He bowed.
Queen Ainera and Max bowed back.
“This way,” General Tywor gestured for them to follow him as he made his way through the quiet crowd. The Raidin Knights cleared the way as Tywor walked along the marble floor, his heels clicking. Max looked up and saw glowing butterflies fluttering about the ceiling and the room. They seemed to be made of pure light.
The Raidin Queen sat high on her throne in silhouette of the blue sky behind her.
There were three giant windows covering the entire wall behind the throne. The lush forest could be seen in its splendor, across the dark bottomless canyon. Eralon sat almost hidden by shadow, but as they neared, they began to make her out.
She sat on a small stone throne on a bare floor platform.
Queen Eralon was petite.
Dark blond hair partly covered her big green eyes, beautiful rosy lips, and a serious but clean face. The Raidins were all clean and possessed a luminous countenance. Eralon’s pointy ears gently protruded out of her vine-shaped crown.
She rested on one side of her throne, slowly popping nuts into her mouth with the light-butterflies fluttering around her. Eralon studied them, as they came before her.
“Queen Ainera Redoren of Densmere,” General Tywor said bowing and stepping aside.
Queen Ainera came before Queen Eralon and bowed, Max stayed at the bottom of the throne, but bowed too.
“It is honor to be in your presence Queen Eralon,” Queen Ainera said bent over.
“As I you,” Eralon said casually.
The glowing butterflies fluttered past Eralon’s face.
“It's been a very long time Ainera. You’ve aged well.”
Queen Ainera chuckled at the comment.
“Your Highness is too kind.”
“I’ve known nearly a dozen humans as I am over five-hundred Moon Cycles old Ainera, so I know well of aged Baelyins.” Eralon said grinning. “You ought to come to Trelindria more.”
“I agree my Queen.” Ainera gave a tiny bow. She gestured Max up, so he came up.
“This is-”
“Max Wilkes, I've heard of him.” Eralon interrupted.
“The Baelyin from the stars who helped save the Woodland People,”
Queen Eralon gazed at him with no expression then, let out a tiny smile as if it was hard.
“Good day to you Baelyin Max.”
“You too your Highness,” Max replied and bowed.
She seemed too sacred a being to be corrected, so he left it.
“My Queen, I come on matters of state.” Queen Ainera changed the subject.
“Speak,” Eralon replied throwing the rest of her nut shells in a vase on the floor.
“As you know, our Kingdoms have had the oldest Alliance in Chandeera, going back to the First Great War with King Drogin.” Ainera explained. “Now we are upon our Fourth War and this looks to be the worse. Kraakon can now move and many believe he will make an assault on Densmere by this Sunland.”
Eralon remained stoic but listened.
“I received word that our relations have strained.” Queen Ainera
stated. “So I have come here myself to speak with you personally, so we may renew our old Alliance.”
Queen Eralon got up and walked about the raised floor, folding her arms and reflecting. She came back and stood before them expressionless.
“As you know, my father fought in the last war a thousand Moon Cycles ago,” She explained.“ He told me how the allied-armies did not work and how Densmere’s lacked military discipline and tactics, only served to fended off the Groargons to survive, and nothing more. If I am to commit my armies, I want to know Densmere will not fail again, but destroy Kraakon forever.”
Queen Ainera took a firm stand at the statement.
“My Queen we will destroy him forever. You have my word. I will fight with everything in my heart to win this war.” Ainera replied.
“I want Kraakon destroyed forever not simply put back to sleep by your Magic Wielder.” Eralon sternly replied. She glared at them with her green eyes.
“We will!” Queen Ainera exclaimed excitedly.
“Then what do we do first?” Queen Eralon asked.
“With Max’s help,” Queen Ainera said. “We will find the Lost Shards of Freena's Rock.”
Chattering and low murmurs erupted among the Raidin warriors.
“We've made plans for a Quest with a sky ship. We've assembled a small group of Knights to assist Max.”
Queen Eralon leaned against her throne, as she continued to listen.
Max looked up at the Queen and Eralon glanced at him, then back to Ainera.
“We have been storming the Groargon Fortress in our Northlands. It was planted there in the last Great War and has been repopulated by Groargons a few Moon Cycles ago.” Eralon explained. “According to legend, one of the pieces is there. Why else would the Groargons defend it so fiercely?”
“Yes I will speak with the King about sending troops to assist your efforts when I return to Densmere.” Queen Ainera replied. “In return, I only ask that our old alliance remain strong and no skirmish develops between our Kingdoms, for we cannot afford an internal conflict with the Dark Lord at our heels.”
Queen Ainera bowed again.
Eralon silently looked at her for a long time before smirking.
“Very well... ” She said sitting on her throne. “You truly are a wise Queen, Ainera, come back and visit sometime.”
“Yes, I will.” Ainera replied.
The hall fell silent.
It surprised Max how hundreds of Raidin Soldiers could remain so quiet. It was something humans could not do.
“Tell King Laedin I send my blessings.” Eralon said, a little lightened.
It was the most that Max had seen her lighten up yet.
“I will my Queen, good day.” Queen Ai'na bowed.
“Good day.” Max added and bowed too.
Max thought Eralon was the most mysterious, enchanting, and wisest woman he had ever met or seen. She a little sexy if he had to admit it.
Eralon got up, turned, folded her arms, and stared out the window.
Queen Ainera now made her way out of Eralon’s Throne Hall and Max saw this as a chance to exchange a few words with Tywor. He walked over to him and extended his hand.
“This is how we show our respect and honor for each other on my world.” Tywor stood looking clueless. Max realized he had to show him, so he grabbed Tywor's hand and shook it.
Tywor looked at him strange but smiled and played along nodding.
“I hope we battle together again,” Max said to Tywor smiling excitedly.
“As I you,” he said nodding, unsure of what he even meant.
Max glanced around and nodded to the stern Raidins. He looked up to see Queen Eralon looking at him from her platform. He made his way down the hall, and soon awkwardly turned to catch up to Queen Ainera. Max glanced back one more time and saw Eralon turning back toward the window.
####
After they traversed the giant stone bridge, Max almost wanted to kiss the forest floor. Stepping onto the dead leaves, he never thought he would be soon happy to see normal ground.
As the caravan started between the high hills, Raidins lugged water down the hillsides to their homes, staring at them.
The cavern made its way back onto the trail and travelled north, instead of west back to Densmere. Queen Ainera called for Max to come to her side. He ran up to her side.
“I would like to go to Teewell Gardens first. It's where I grew up and groomed for Royalty.” She looked up smiling with her bright eyes. “Would you protest?”
“No, I would not.” Max shook his head.
“Good,” she said continuing on.
A couple of days of riding and they would leave Werzuck Forest and entered the South Valley and then into the beautiful vale of Glaadis. They passed a small town on the way called Hornwall but did not stop. They continued north through the windswept hills.
At night, they camped and eat well.
It was on the second day they reached Teewell Gardens.
It was in a vale with a spread of sparsely laid cottages. Teewell was more of a Hamlet, a small settlement for growing food. Teewell was founded by Ainera's rich ancestors, Aristocrats who had a long-standing relation with Densmere to grow food for the Kingdom.
Max saw the women with towel hats hoeing and tilling dozens of gardens on countless plots over the entire landscape.
Queen Ainera stopped by a huge two-story cottage and hugged the women one-by-one, as she stepped down. They laughed in happiness at the sight of her.
“This is Max Wilkes.” She said pointing to him.
“Oh!” They said bowing and taking his hand one-by-one. Max couldn't believe the entire Gardening Collective were women, he saw no men.
“Max, why don't you help Raddra with her daily chores while I settle in?”
She pointed to one of the women in a garden.
“Sure,” He said. He walked to the carriage and put his weapons in it, a small teen girl came up to him and took his things and walked them into the house. The Queen was already entering the house with the crowds of women.
Rac’dra had a big smile gesturing him to follow her. She was young, skinny, and always happy. Max followed her to the Gardens patching a small hillside, women walked among the patches with plowshares.
“My name is Raddra. I'm Head of Garden Harvest this Moon Cycle.” She explained. “Cut the leaves off the plants in this row and put them in the baskets and bring them to the kitchen, then start pulling up the weeds of garden over there and bring them to the second kitchen.” She pointed to another two-story cottage.
“Sure.” Max replied.
She smiled.
She walked into the house.
Max started on the garden and worked all day, picking Chandeeran endives.
He pulled weeds and put them in the Second Cottage Kitchen and started back out to the fields. Sometimes, he would hear laughter and merrymaking from the big cottage, as he walked by it. Raddra came out occasionally and plucked purple potatoes from the ground and go back into the house.
Max continued picking endives and filled nearly a dozen baskets by nightfall. He finished the harvest and slowly made his way into the kitchen with the last basket. He gave the baskets to two women in the kitchen and then rinsed his hands in a bucket on the floor.
He walked through the busy kitchen into the main room.
The Teewell women sat around Queen Ainera by a huge fireplace at the base of a stairwell, smiling as they listened to her tell stories.
Max looked up to see there were rooms on the second floor along an open corridor.
“Max is such a good Baelyin man if I say so my ladies,” she said smiling to all them. Max made out Raddra smiling at him by the door. “But he has a beautiful lady that dropped in from the stars with him.”
“Aaawww... ” a maid said from the crowd, they started laughing.
Max blushed red and sunk his head from shyness. Raddra smiled as she put on her overcoat.
“See you next morn my l
adies.” Raddra bowed to them and they said their 'Good nights'. She turned to Max.
“Max it was nice to meet you and thank you for your help.”
“It’s no problem, thank you Raddra, goodnight.” He replied and bowed.
“Bye,” she said touching his hand.
She walked out.
“Max, your food is waiting for you in the kitchen below the cutting table.” Queen Ainera said.
“Thank you my Queen,” he said bowing to her and to the ladies.
“It was good to make your acquaintance ladies.”
“You too Max!” They chuckled.
Max smiled one more time before walking into the kitchen. He sat at the cutting table and set the plate down, then began to eat. The kitchen staff had left already.
Max was shown to one of the rooms upstairs. He kicked off his boots and folded the blanket over him and it smelled nice, like lavender. He fell asleep quickly.
The next morning, Max woke up and stretched.
He looked down off the balcony and saw no one in the huge living room, so he started down and made his way to the kitchen. He walked in to see one young woman churning bread. She looked up at him and smiled.
“Yes?”
“Where is the Queen?”
“She has gone down into Town Square to address the people.” She said tilting her head in the direction.
“Thank you,” Max said as he made his way out.
Max went out, but realized it was hot. He didn’t need his jacket for the first time, so he left it and only wore his dark green t-shirt to town.
The bared down on the lush grasslands, he walked a windy dirt road, passing the beautiful gardens with flowers on the side of the trail too. He noticed there weren't many houses but a lot of surrounding gardens, and distant farms. He summated a small hill that showed a town along a ravine, where children played.
Max made his way down and soon came upon its cobble-stoned streets.
The town of Teewell was only one street lined with buildings, it seemed more a market and distribution center.
He saw the familiar daub paneled houses that were in Yems. The street were filled with merchants and wagons pulling straw, barrels, and many other things. The street got congested as he reached Square. Max saw hundreds of Baelyins standing around the Queen. She stood on the small fountain in the middle of the square.