Oaken

by Melody Robinette

  Luke was the first to speak. “Aren’t elves supposed to live in the North Pole?”

  Crystal laughed, rolling her eyes. “Sure. Elves are supposed to be short people with enormous pointy ears, right? Santa’s helpers? Makers of shoes, toys, cookies? Oh, and Snow White befriended seven of them in some fairy tale.”

  “Those were dwarves, actually,” Autumn muttered.

  “Yeah, but elves don’t exist, though,” Luke said. “Those are all fairy tales and myths and stories that people have made up over the years. They aren’t actually real.”

  “Every fairy tale generally has a little bit of truth behind it. Besides, I could say the same thing about you. Down here, Outsiders are the creatures of fairy tales,” Crystal said, looking slightly offended.

  “Outsiders?” Autumn said.

  “Oh, right. You call yourselves humans. ‘The Outside’ is what we call the human world and we call humans ‘Outsiders’,” Crystal clarified.

  “Do you honestly expect us to believe any of this? Okay, so you’ve got pointy ears. That doesn’t prove anything,” Luke said.

  “Watch.” Crystal pointed her index finger at a nearby rosebush. With a resounding crack, the bush instantly turned into solid ice.

  Autumn gasped and Luke stared at the crystal bush with a look of horror.

  “You’re not an elf…you’re a witch!” he said, retreating hastily until his back was pressed against the trunk of a tree.

  Crystal looked exasperated now. “NO. I am an elf. My Power is Ice.”

  “If our grandfather is an elf, then wouldn’t our parents be elves?” Autumn asked, unable to tear her eyes away from the ice bush.

  “Stop humoring her, Autumn,” Luke said.

  “Your father was an elf. He was next in line for the throne, but he didn’t want to be king. So he traveled to the Outside, where he met your mother—”

  “This is ridiculous. Come on, Autumn. Let’s get out of here.” Luke began tromping back towards the waterfall.

  Autumn slowly turned to follow him, then hesitated, glancing again at the bush that now looked like an elaborate ice sculpture. She looked down at the mark on her inner wrist. The same as her brother’s. The same as her father’s. She had never thought much about it, just assumed it was a birthmark. But, then again, birthmarks weren’t hereditary.

  “No,” Autumn said in a quiet voice.

  Luke whipped around to look at his sister. “What?”

  “I’m not leaving. I believe her,” Autumn said louder, planting her feet.

  “You can’t be serious.”

  “I am.”

  Luke stared at Autumn with his mouth agape, clearly questioning her sanity.

  “Are you really telling me that you believe we are elves?” he said.

  “I don’t know what we are,” Autumn said. “All I know is that I don’t want to go back there. Our parents are gone, everything we know has changed, and we are all alone. We have nothing to go back to. What if Crystal is right about all of this? And what if we really do have a grandfather here? I want to know the truth. There’s a reason I’ve been dreaming about that waterfall for a month. It brought me here. It brought us here.”

  Luke listened to her with a contemplative frown on his face, one foot planted on a stepping-stone and one on the spongy moss.

  “What was our father’s name?” Luke said, turning to Crystal.

  “Alexander Olympus Oaken.”

  This seemed to take Luke aback. Clearly he had not expected her to know this fact.

  “Okay. If we are elves then why don’t we look like you?” he said, still looking highly suspicious. “Why don’t we have the hair and the skin and the—the ears?”

  “You will soon. You’ve been in the Outside too long for you to transform back automatically. The longer you’re in the Outside, the longer it takes to return to your elf form. You should be completely transformed in a few days.”

  “Oh, don’t worry, we won’t be staying that long,” he said.

  “But we will be staying for a little while?” Autumn asked hopefully.

  “Long enough to get some answers,” he said, looking like he was already regretting this decision. Autumn smiled in triumph. “But you better not turn me into a toad or something,” Luke said to Crystal.

  “I swear,” she said with a chuckle.

  “Now, where is this supposed grandfather of ours?” he asked.

  Crystal smiled and with a wave of her hand said, “Follow me.”

  Arbor Falls

  CHAPTER FOUR

  “What do you call this place, anyway?” Luke asked as Crystal led them along a path down the steep hill.

  “Arbor Falls,” Crystal said. “The Elf Capitol.”

  “So, there are other elf towns here?” Autumn asked.

  “There are several. Arbor Falls is the biggest of all the elf territories. But elves aren’t the only creatures in the Underground.”

  “The Underground?” Autumn said, thinking that she should start writing down all of these new terms or she was bound to forget them.

  “Yes. That’s where we are.”

  “I thought we were in Arbor Falls,” Autumn said, thoroughly confused.

  “We are. There are many lands in the Underground, though. Arbor Falls is just one of them.”

  “Wait. Are you saying that we are actually underground?” Luke said. Crystal nodded. Autumn and Luke looked up at the blue, cloudless sky, the shining sun peeking through the leaves of the tall trees. “That’s impossible,” he said.

  Crystal smiled. “Nothing’s impossible.”

  “But the sky,” Autumn said.

  “The creatures here are not the only ones that have magical abilities, you know. The Underground has Powers of its own too.”

  “If this place was underground, people would know about it,” Luke said.

  “Why?” Crystal challenged. “Because Outsiders think they know everything? I believe, once upon a time, even the brightest Outsiders believed that the Earth was flat, did they not?”

  Luke frowned and said, “Well yeah, but—”

  “Outsiders only discover what the Undergrounders allow them to discover. We want to keep the Underground a secret, therefore it is impossible to detect. Outsiders don’t have the ability to see the Underground because they don’t have the ability to see magic. The Underground just looks like a bubbling mass of hot lava to them.”

  Luke shook his head, dropping the subject.

  But Autumn wasn’t done asking questions. “So, do you have other Powers?”

  “Ice is my only Power. Each elf has just one. Some Powers are stronger and more, er, impressive than others, and some could hardly be considered a Power. My mother’s, for example, is sewing. Other elves I know have Powers like baking or cleaning.”

  “Cleaning? Hey, maybe that will be your Power, Luke,” Autumn said.

  Luke made a face. Autumn imagined he was picturing himself in a French maid costume with a feather duster in his hand.

  Crystal giggled. “I highly doubt that.”

  “If we stay, will we have Powers?” Autumn asked, ignoring Luke’s snort.

  “Of course. You’re elves, after all—and royals, at that.”

  “How long will it take for them to appear?” asked Autumn.

  “Elves discover their Power at different times. It just depends on the individual, but the Power usually shows up before they turn 13. If you were to stay—” she glanced warily at Luke, “you would probably learn your Power within a week or two, once your bodies have fully transformed and adjusted to being in the Underground.”

  The trio had now made their way into the heart of Arbor Falls. Autumn nearly developed a crick in her neck from attempting to view everything at once. They passed by a particularly eccentric looking tree house surrounded by strange flowers that Autumn had never seen before. The flora appeared to be stirring. Moving closer, she realized there were actually creatures inside of the petals.

  “What are those?”
Autumn asked, pausing. Inside the flowers were small, fairy-like creatures, all dancing, singing, or lounging around. Their skin and hair were the exact color of the flowers they inhabited.

  “Those are petalsies. They’re born from the flowers and live within the bud for the rest of their lives. They’re vicious little creatures,” Crystal said as one of the petalsies sunk its teeth into Luke’s hand. He cursed under his breath and sucked on his finger, glaring at the little red petalsie who was smiling malevolently up at him.

  “This is City Circle,” Crystal told them as they reached the end of the dirt path. “The center of Arbor Falls.”

  Before them stood a grand marble fountain strategically placed in the middle of a wide circle of cobblestones surrounded by various shops with storefront windows full of displays and unique wooden signs hanging above the front doors.

  They passed a bakery with a window full of delectable looking cakes, pies, cookies, strangely shaped cream puffs, and tarts filled with bright purple custard. They ambled by a bookstore, a dress shop, and a cozy looking coffee shop. Then a pet store with a display of what looked like different colored tiger cubs with wings. Two of the animals rolled around playing and a few of the others hovered near the window, looking out at the passersby with big eyes.

  “What are those?” Autumn asked in awe.

  “Tigerflies,” Crystal said.

  “They’re so cute.” Autumn laughed as two of the tigerflies began rolling around the display case, tugging at each other’s ears.

  “I’m allergic to cats,” Luke said, looking at them with dislike.

  As the three of them moved onward Autumn realized that she hadn’t seen one vehicle, though there were tons of people—well, elves—dashing about the circle. Hardly anyone spared the twins a glance, but the few people that did notice them stopped what they were doing and stared.

  “Do they know who we are too?” Autumn muttered to Crystal.

  “No. You just still look like Outsiders, so you’re probably freaking them out a little bit. It usually only takes us a few minutes to transform back into our elf forms, but you two show no signs of the transformation yet. Don’t worry, though, they’ve all seen much stranger things down here. Trust me.”

  “Hey, Crys!” a voice called in their direction. Autumn turned to see a pale boy about their age with a head full of dark curls jogging up to them. “Have you done your Numbers proj—” He dropped off, apparently just having noticed that Crystal was not alone. “Outsiders?”

  “Forrest, this is Autumn and Luke—er—Oaken.”

  Forrest’s head snapped to Luke and then Autumn, his mouth dropping open.

  “A pleasure to meet you my good sir.” He shook Luke’s hand and gave him a small bow before turning to Autumn. “And you my fair lady,” he said kissing her hand as he bowed even lower.

  Autumn pulled her hand back, perhaps a little too forcefully because Forrest looked slightly taken aback.

  “Cut it out, Forrest,” Crystal said, stifling a laugh. “They just found out they’re royals, like, ten minutes ago.” Forrest looked confused and Crystal sighed. “I’ll explain later. And, yes, I’ve done my Numbers project and, no, you can’t copy any of it.”

  Forrest gave her an exasperated look and turned on his heel, trudging back up the path.

  “What’s his Power?” asked Autumn, watching Forrest’s retreating figure disappear up the path.

  “Animal Communication.”

  “As in?” Autumn said.

  “As in he can talk to animals and they can talk to him. Follow me,” Crystal said, as if talking to animals was a normal, everyday occurrence around here. Autumn was beginning to think it probably was.

  They turned onto a wide dirt road leading up to the front of the castle towering above them. A series of steps that appeared to be shaped from the wood of the tree rose up to a pair of grand oak doors. Carved into the wood on each door was a twisting knot with three points, reminding Autumn of the Celtic knots found throughout Ireland.

  “Here we are, Arbor Castle,” Crystal announced.

  “How original.” Luke snorted and then let out a grunt as Autumn elbowed him in the ribs.

  Guarding the doors was a pair of burly, male elves dressed in red, standing with their arms crossed in front of their chests. They eyed the twins warily as Crystal led them up the wooden staircase.

  “Hello, Miss Everly,” the guard on the right said to Crystal, shooting another glance at Autumn and Luke.

  “Sorry, Miss, you know there are no visitors allowed after hours,” the guard on the left said.

  “Boys, this is Autumn and Luke Oaken.” She waved her hand at Autumn and Luke. “They’re here to see their grandfather—the king.”

  The guards glanced from Autumn to Luke with suspicious looks on their faces.

  “Show them your wrist,” Crystal said as an aside to Autumn, who did as she was told.

  The guards’ mouths dropped open just as Forrest’s had. One of the guards said, “Oh! Yes, of course. Welcome Prince Oaken, Princess Oaken.”

  They bowed and quickly stepped aside as Autumn and her brother exchanged surprised glances. As if by magic, the giant oak doors opened, permitting the three of them to enter Arbor Castle.

  Arbor Castle

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Autumn and Luke followed Crystal into a grand room with high ceilings. If Autumn hadn’t known better she would never have been able to tell that they were standing in the middle of a ginormous, hollowed out tree. She couldn’t help but gaze around in awe. Every detail in the room was exquisite, from the crown moldings to the ornate furniture to the royal blue rug with golden fibers strewn throughout.

  Approaching one of the light fixtures hanging on the wall, Autumn’s head tilted curiously to the side as she examined it. It was a sconce filled with a strange undulating light that appeared to be neither fire nor electrical. She wondered if it was somehow lit by magic and smiled to herself at the thought.

  “This is the waiting room for the subjects of Arbor Falls who have come to see the king during visiting hours. The throne room is through there,” Crystal said, pointing to a pair of wooden doors as she made her way over to one of the claret-colored armchairs and plopped down, beckoning Autumn and Luke to join her. When Autumn sat down in the chair next to Crystal she sank into the cushion.

  Luke folded his hands behind his head and lounged back, letting out a sigh of relaxation. “Okay, I may actually decide to stay here. Only, I’m never leaving this chair.”

  Crystal chuckled. “I’m sure that could be arranged. But if you think that chair is comfortable, wait until you sleep in your bed for the first time. I may only live in the roots of the castle, but the beds here are like sleeping on clouds. Maybe better.”

  “Well, yeah,” Luke said, his eyes closed now. “Clouds are full of moisture. That would not be a pleasant sleeping experience.”

  “You live here?” Autumn asked Crystal, ignoring her brother.

  “I’m a castle worker.”

  “What do you do?” Luke asked.

  “I’m a couturier,” she said and when she noted the vacant looks on the twins’ faces she continued. “I make all the clothes for the staff and for the king. My mother is a couturier too. The best there is,” she said with a proud smile. Then a look of comprehension dawned on her face. “Oh! That’s why Olympus asked me to make all of those clothes a couple months ago. They were for you two!”

  “He knew we were coming?” asked Autumn in surprise.

  Crystal shrugged. “He must have.”

  “How?”

  “The magic of the Underground,” Luke mocked, causing Crystal to shoot him a look of annoyance that could rival the worst of Autumn’s. Luckily he had not seen this due to his closed eyes.

  The wooden doors leading to the throne room opened at that moment and another guard stepped inside the waiting room. “The King will see you now,” he said.

  Autumn, Luke, and Crystal followed the guard into a room even tall
er than the last and much wider. A long golden carpet led up to an empty throne that jutted out of the wall behind it, as if carved from the tree castle itself. Etched into the wood were more swirling designs that matched the stitching in the blue and gold rug.

  A young man dressed in red stood next to the throne. Golden hair fell softly around his face, and his eyes were the color of steel. His gaze landed upon Autumn and she felt her breath catch in her chest. The gray-eyed boy quickly looked away, his strong jaw clenching.

  It was him. The boy from her dreams.

  Realizing her mouth was hanging open, she quickly snapped it shut.

  “Who’s that?” Autumn breathed.

  Crystal leaned over and whispered, “That’s Avery Burke. He’s a guard here.”

  This surprised Autumn. Though his body was undoubtedly toned, his build was nothing compared to the burly men standing guard at the front doors.

  “Really?” she said, unable to hide her surprise.

  “His Power is Strength,” Crystal said. “He’s stronger than all the castle guards combined. An elf’s Power doesn’t necessarily define their physical appearance, it comes from within.”

  A door opened to the right of the throne and two more brawny guards entered the room.

  “Announcing Olympus Orpheus Oaken, King of Arbor Falls,” one of the guards said in a booming voice.

  A tall, stout old man with long flaming red hair and a beard to match pushed through them. “Out of my way Rupert, Donald. I told you that was not necessary.”

  “Sorry, muh’ lord,” the man named Donald said, bowing.

  “Where are my grandchildren? Ah!” He spotted the twins standing awkwardly beside Crystal.

  Striding over, he gathered them in his arms and squeezed tightly. Just as Autumn was beginning to lose air supply he let go and held them at arm’s length. “Let me look at you,” he said. His hazel eyes were wet. “It’s been years. Luke, you look so much like your father. I assume Mrs. King is not with you? We will send her a message, telling her you are safe.”