The Awakening

by Gary Alan Wassner

  “I am still unclear, my Lord, just who you serve and why you are here in Avalain?” Lord Markal inquired, a bit perplexed. “You stand at our gates surrounded by armed soldiers and yet you do not explain your presence clearly.”

  “We serve the earth, Captain. We serve those trees who serve us,” he answered by means of explanation.

  “Do not all the trees serve us and we them, Sir Knight?” Lord Markal questioned.

  “No, my Lord. Many manipulate and control us. Many consider us their subjects and treat us accordingly,” he responded.

  “The Lalas have preserved the balance upon our land for countless tiels. They guard the Gem and protect us from the darkness. What trees do you speak of, Sir, that treat people so? Surely we have none in Avalain,” the captain declared, astounded by the visitor’s declarations.

  “Have you not seen suffering all around you? Has not the earth been rent by seizures and turmoil? Do not the trees themselves cause havoc and pain? They demanded our dependence and now they abandon us. Let the Dark Lord take them all. He can only hasten what must be anyway. The Lalas are dying. We must reclaim the earth for ourselves.”

  “What are you saying, Knight? Do you forsake the great trees?” he answered, alarmed at the words this soldier spoke.

  “Yes, we do. And their Chosen too. They have never served us. They serve only themselves and their own purposes. We have suffered long enough under the spells of the trees and their servants.”

  “Do you not believe that the Gem of Eternity illuminates all of our paths?” he responded, shocked at what he was hearing.

  “Nay, my Lord. Let the light be gone from this land. May Colton and the trees destroy each other and leave the earth to us. They have battled at our expense for far too long now. We do not need any of them. They have betrayed their trust.”

  “If the light goes out, it goes out on us all, Sir Knight. There is no future for anyone without the Gem’s blessing and radiance,” Lord Markal said in horror.

  “So they have persuaded us for countless tiels. But it has been for their own preservation alone that they have foisted these lies upon the people. The trees die and we suffer, yet we live on. They wage open battle with the common man now. We wish to grieve no longer and we wish to endure no more pain. Let them all die and leave us be. Join us in our crusade. Let all the people throw off the shackles of their misery at the hands of the trees and their conduits of power,” he concluded and he spread his own fingers wide and pressed his hand to his chest.

  The group surrounding him became more and more zealous as he spoke, stamping the shafts of their spears upon the hard earth of the courtyard and shouting in support of their leader.

  During the noise and distraction, barely anyone noticed the lone, grey stallion as it slowly and inconspicuously made its way from the castle to the city gates. It leisurely crossed over the bridge and continued on until it was standing next to Lord Markal’s own dapple.

  Queen Esta drew her hood off her head, revealing her abundant raven hair which contrasted sharply against her porcelain skin. Her full red lips glistened in the morning sun. She sat upon her horse without saying a word and gazed upon the assemblage before her. When the clamor died down somewhat, she spoke.

  “What have we here, my Lord?” she addressed her Captain. “I hear that our visitors have lost their faith. They wish us to join them in their campaign to hasten the demise of the trees. Have I attended correctly?” she inquired in a voice loud enough for all those present to hear.

  “Yes, my Queen, you have heard correctly,” he answered.

  “And why my good Knight, do you think we would commit to such a path? We have not suffered under the guidance of the Lalas and their Chosen,” she inquired.

  “Their time is past. They have led us to the edge of the precipice and now they forsake us. They care no longer for our welfare, but only for their own. Their conflicts cause great suffering for us all,” he responded.

  “Perhaps we simply cannot see the method behind what they do. Should we therefor ignore the rich history of service that preceded these dark times?” she probed in a voice neither arrogant nor haughty.

  “Whose service, your Highness? Ours to them or theirs to us?” he asked skeptically.

  “Our relationship was mutual, my good Knight. Its wheel turned both ways.”

  Queen Esta paused for a moment and dropped her eyes to the ground, deep in thought. When she raised them once more, they were bright and illuminated.

  “Sir Knight,” she began again. “We all endure the hardships these times bring to bear upon us.” Her voice was melodious yet strong and steady. “Faith, though, is not something to be casually discarded. Neither is loyalty, as you so declared when you took your knightly vows.”

  She hesitated for a brief second so that the impact of her declaration had time to sink in.

  “I know that you and your followers are trying desperately to make sense out of the turmoil that you perceive around you. Sometimes though, we cannot do that. And you must be careful never to confuse fear with the disconcertion of your heart, Sir. The heart remains true, whether or not your fear leads you to believe otherwise. Surely you know that we suffer because the loss of the trees is too great to bear, not because they intend us to grieve so violently. They were always and are still our trusted friends.”

  Queen Esta lifted her chin and looked the tall knight directly in the eyes. His gaze faltered for just a moment, and she knew that he heard what she said and that it touched him deeply. Yet his eyes remained hard and determined.

  “You speak eloquently my Lady, and I trust you are genuine in what you say. But apparently you have not heard what transpired in Talamar. All this time, I assumed you had. Did word not reach you of the abominable treachery? I was certain that such news would have spread quickly,” he inquired, surprised.

  Not wanting to appear uninformed, Queen Esta replied, “Our relations with Talamar are none too good these days, Sir Knight. It is unlikely that the house of Dumas would keep us apprised of the events developing in its land.”

  Her concern was mounting rapidly though, simply by the tone of his voice.

  “Well then, you must send a trusted envoy as your eyes and ears, your Highness, and when he reports back to you and enlightens you, we must speak again. Tell me then if you still believe that my loyalty to the trees should be renewed,” he declared. “I took my vows only recently and they mean a great deal to me. But I was knighted after the debacle in Talamar and they therefor reflect a new reality, your Highness.”

  “Can you not illuminate me, good Knight? Must I wait so long to understand what turned your allegiance into loathing?” she asked.

  “If you wish, my Lady, I can. But I fear that what I offer you in terms of description may not be adequate for you. Certainly it would not have been for me.”

  “I would that you make an effort at explanation nonetheless, Sir,” she responded immediately. “But please, let us not stand here in the heat of the sun any longer. Come…” she gestured with a sweep of her arm, “… Join me for some repast if only to quench your thirst, and we can discuss things more comfortably. I will ask my attendants to make the wells available to your assemblage and to bring them some bread and cheese as well.”

  Queen Esta did not wish for this conversation to continue in public. Whatever was said would spread like wildfire among her people and until she herself knew what had really happened, she felt that it was best if it remained more private.

  “I thank you humbly, my Lady. We are all sorely in need of refreshment. It has been a long ride for us,” he replied gratefully.

  “Come then, Sir Knight. Follow me,” Queen Esta said as she turned her horse around in a tight circle and nudged him on through the gates. “Captain, see that our visitors are supplied with refreshments.”

  “Yes, my Queen. At once,” he answered, jumping to the task.

  “Sir Knight? May I ask if you have a name? It seems to me that if we are going to converse a
while longer, it would be appropriate if I knew to whom I was speaking,” she said, turning deftly in her saddle as would an experienced warrior.

  The Knight could not help but notice her ability as a horsewoman.

  “I am Sir Etan of Balstair, newly knighted by Margot Dumas of Talamar,” he responded proudly.

  Queen Esta simply smiled in response to his answer, she bowed her head slightly in acknowledgment and kept moving, keeping her perplexity at the name she had just heard well hidden. Everyone was aware that Duke Leonardo and his wife the Duchess Dorothea recently died in a horrifying fire, but she had not heard that their son had married so soon thereafter. With her head cocked slightly, she feigned nonchalance.

  “I am unfamiliar with the name you just mentioned, Sir. The Duchess Margot of Dumas? It is odd that Kettin would have chosen someone to wed whom I am altogether unacquainted with. We were allies for many years and the late Duchess and I attended many functions together. She was a robust and friendly woman and we will all miss her. Yet Kettin had always been a sworn bachelor, much to the chagrin of Duke Leonardo. This woman must be quite captivating to have turned his eye her way and caused him to abandon his predilections,” she commented questioningly.

  “I had no occasion to convene with the Duke, my Lady. He was suffering from exhaustion and was bedridden. I am certainly in no position to reply as to the why or wherefor of his marriage,” Sir Etan noted modestly. “She was his eyes, his ears and his voice though, in his absence. That she proclaimed quite clearly.”

  Queen Esta was addled by this development and she thought it extremely peculiar that a stranger would be running the affairs of the house of Dumas. Nevertheless, she had always regarded Kettin with disdain. It surprised her none that he would relinquish his duty to rule. She had ever expected though, that Fobush would act as his regent and govern in his name.

  This is an odd development indeed, she thought.

  “Well, congratulations to you nonetheless, Sir Knight. I hope you honor your vows and do justice to the sacred oaths,” she said sincerely. “May the First guide you and keep you,” the Queen concluded.

  Sir Etan’s eyes clouded momentarily at the mention of the First, but he accepted her acclamation graciously and bowed his head respectfully in her direction. Queen Esta spurred her horse forward faster now, signaling the others to follow. She was anxious to get to the bottom of a number of issues by this time. She needed to know what untoward events occurred in Talamar that could possibly have turned these people and this honorable Knight against the trees. And she had a curious feeling about this unfamiliar woman who had assumed the reins of power in Talamar. Events were transpiring faster than she wished, upsetting the status quo that she had hoped would remain intact at least until her daughter Filaree returned to Avalain.

  As the Queen and Sir Etan disappeared through the gates of the city, Lord Markal signaled the keepers to draw the bridge and set the seals. He was not comfortable until the rabble rousers that arrived with this stalwart Knight were safely settled outside, far away from the heart of Avalain. As the drawbridge rose behind the small contingent heading for the palace Lord Markal sighed in relief, though a nagging feeling of discomfort would not dissipate with the mere shutting of the gates. Queen Esta too felt the disconcertion of the moment and her thoughts were upon her daughter as well, knowing instinctively that these events and her ‘calling’ were inextricably bound together.

  I shall not remain apart from this after all, she thought to herself, remembering vividly the day her daughter informed her that she had to leave for Pardatha. Filaree believed that she was riding into the storm, when in fact I may have been ahead of it all the time, she noted wryly as she wrapped her cloak more tightly about her shoulders.

  “Come, let us hasten to the castle. We have much to discuss,” she said aloud.

  With renewed urgency the Queen spurred her mount onward down the broad, cobbled streets of Avalain.

  Chapter Seven

  “He seems so peaceful, husband. His skin is pale, but he shines from within nevertheless. He barely breathes, yet it is adequate I am certain, for his complacent state. I have tried all that I can to awaken him, but nothing has been efficacious. I keep him bathed and groomed although it pains me to cut his beautiful hair. I clip his nails and nourish him with Lalas tea and kala sap when necessary. But I can do nothing to bring him back to consciousness.”

  Elsinestra secured the few wisps of flaxen hair that had loosened from her floor length braid, straightened her soft skirts and raised her beautifully sculpted chin so that she could gaze directly into the blue eyes of her husband, Treestar, King of the southern elves.

  “You have taken good care of him, my dear. You have attended to his every need. You can do no more than that under the circumstances,” the handsome, ancient elf replied.

  “I feel so powerless, husband,” she said, her smooth forehead creased with trouble. “He is under so potent a spell that even I am unable to break it.”

  “Some things are as they should be, though we may not understand why at the time. Besides, we have kept him safe and healthy here in the Heights. Now we can do no more but await our son’s arrival. He and his new friends must take over the task when they reach Seramour,” the King responded.

  Elsinestra walked over to Treestar and gently placed her slender arm inside of his. She leaned her fair head upon his arm and stared blankly.

  “I have grown quite fond of him, you know,” she commented. “Although we cannot discourse, I have developed a strong attachment to the boy.”

  “As have I, my love. As have I,” he replied.

  “Do you think that Elion will be able to revive him? Or perhaps one of the others with him? What did Baladar tell you in the second dispatch?” she inquired.

  “He was brief, for the sake of caution I am sure. He said little that was unnecessary. It consisted mostly of facts regarding the battle, the ‘coming’ of those who were ‘called’ and the retreat of Caeltin. He did tell me how very proud he was of our son and of the extraordinary bravery he exhibited,” Treestar answered, his tanned skin coloring as he spoke.

  “I suppose he was concerned that the message might fall into the wrong hands. It would have been unwise for him to mention the heir again,” she responded thoughtfully.

  “Once was dangerous enough,” he replied, grimacing. “You knew immediately that he was a remarkable boy, but did you surmise that he was the heir of legend?” he asked, changing the subject for a moment.

  “I am not sure, husband,” she said as she stepped away from him briefly and considered his question. “I felt the power the first moment that I entered the room within which he lay. But that was not enough. Many humans are so endowed and often they do not even know of it themselves. When I espied the small lettering upon his pale belly, I at first thought someone had abused him. But the runes were so intricate and beautiful that no elf, human or dwarf hand could have created them. I knew then that he was stricken by the hand of destiny.”

  “Davmiran,” he mused upon the name, as he slowly paced the floor.

  “A gentle name, but one of strength,” she replied, though her eyes were still blankly staring at the wall of books behind the imposing table.

  “A familiar name, although I know not its derivation,” he commented. “I suppose we will learn all that we must shortly, my wife. They departed Pardatha just before Baladar sent us word. It should not be much longer now.”

  “Have you informed the scouts of their impending arrival?” she asked, focusing her gaze once again upon her husband.

  “Of course, my dear. They have been so nervous lately, with all that they have recently seen. It has not been easy keeping everyone contained in the city and the lifts sealed as well without providing an acceptable explanation. But, I believe it was for the best. Even though we were not directly attacked, I could not take any chances.”

  “You did the right thing, husband. The people have been kind to understand without questioning your
directives. They believe that we were in danger and that is true nonetheless, despite the fact that they do not know the true reason why. The boy’s safety and security is paramount. Do not concern yourself over the deception. It was a noble one,” she said, and she walked to his side and took his hand in her own.

  “I pray that they arrive safely. The wolves have been quiet of late. I hope that they are not resting in order to gather their strength for a renewed attack.”

  “They have a Chosen among them. They will be safe.”

  “Yes, I am sure they will. I am just so anxious to see Elion again.”

  “I miss him dearly too, Treestar. It must have been so hard for him to disobey your will and sneak out of the city when he did. But he had too. I think about that often.”

  “He was driven by honor, not deceit. I know that now. What terrible pain he must have suffered thinking he had done so great a wrong. I too think about it a lot,” Treestar rejoined.

  “Yes, his journey was borne of sadness and regret. But what a wonderful twist of fate it must have been to finally learn of the fortuitousness of his deed,” she replied.

  “Luck played no part in our son’s encounter with the heir,” he said sharply. “And luck will play no part in ours either. We do what we must.”

  “May the First always guide him so serendipitously nonetheless, dearest,” she reiterated fondly, taking no offense to his retort.

  Treestar walked slowly across the burnished wood floor. The archways that formed the windows were high and graceful and they allowed just enough sunlight in to warm the room and illuminate it, but not too much so as to cause an inordinate amount of heat to accumulate within. He walked to the one nearest him and leaned upon the balustrade. From this vantage point he could see the glimmering roofs of the nearby houses, and in the distance he saw the greenery of the fields, blooming abundantly despite the turmoil on the earth below.