by Mike Ezekiel
“I’m not sure but I think human magic doesn’t require us to speak the words out loud so long as we say them in our head. The One Power knows what to do and our spells are completed,” replied Kerwyn in a quiet voice.
“Maybe,” Erlina said but didn’t sound as though she believed that answer.
“Kerwyn, how were you able to see me in the Zone of Darkness? I moved after I cast the zone and you still hit me with all that colour spray. You shouldn’t have been able to see me, and then when I cast the magic missile back at where you were standing, if it hit you, then you showed no sign of it. There is no way I missed you unless you saw it coming and got out of the way or cast a deflection spell in time. I am very glad that you did not, get hurt by it. I was so mad that I cast it without thinking whether or not I would hit you and, if I had hit you with it, you could have died. But you were ok when you came out. Plus you knew what I was fighting and attacked the shrieker not once but twice. That’s the other thing; how did you cast that Necromancer spell? I have never seen anyone cast such a powerful dark magic spell before, and I grew up with and have been taught by some of the most powerful wizards in the world.
My Masters asked what spell you had cast to kill a shrieker as they wanted to log it into our records for history, and I told them that I didn’t know what spell you had used. I don’t think they believed me because I have seen almost all of the spells that a high level wizard casts and all the normal spells an apprentice would know how to cast. I think that’s why they didn’t believe me because we are just apprentices and they know all the spells that I have been taught. As well, they think they have a pretty good idea of what you were taught from your master. The spell you cast was too powerful and way too advanced for an apprentice to cast. And it is also forbidden magic: all dark magic is forbidden.” Erlina starting to get angry, scared, and frustrated at not understanding how Kerwyn could have cast such a powerful dark magic spell said. Where did you learn it, and how did you cast it without being evil?” she asked in an angry; yet concerned voice.
Turning, she stared directly into his black eye, and said, “But you do have evil inside of you. There is another being living inside of you that is fighting for control so it can kill you. That’s what Elvin Master Faunus was talking about. Kerwyn, we need to get you to the forest witch, Druantia, as soon as we can. If this evil being inside of you can cast dark magic, how long until it has the power to take control or destroy you? We need to find out how to get rid of this other being living inside of you and Druantia might be the only one that can answer that. Come on, we need to get that barrier down so we can get through.”
Behind them was a voice that said, “Hold on, my daughter. You’re not going anywhere.” Turning, Erlina’s mouth dropped open and Kerwyn twisted in his bed to look in the direction where the voice had come from.
“Mother; and Master Sernett! How long have you both been standing there?” asked Erlina in a shocked voice.
“Long enough to know that you and Kerwyn are not heading out anywhere today and you will not be accompanying them on their journey, my daughter. You are the Forrest Elvin Princess, and a princess does not trek through the forest on adventures. Your place is here, safe, in our domain. Kerwyn, I really like you and I can see that you have a great destiny ahead of you. But there is also great danger in your future and danger seems to find you wherever you are. This should have been the safest place in the world but somehow we have had trolls, goblins and now a deadly shrieker trying to get in here to get you. Master Sernett and I have had very long discussions and have come up with the best plan for success.
The group of seven will head out to see the forest witch but they will need to be well rested and have a full belly of food in them before they go, which means that no one leaves until tomorrow morning and that is if Kerwyn can open the barrier. Think you feel up to trying to open up that barrier Kerwyn?”
“Yes Your Highness, I am ready to try. Please just give me time to get dressed and I will go directly to the barrier,” said Kerwyn.
“Nonsense. You will stop at the kitchens for breakfast first. I will not have it said that the Elvin Queen would not allow her guests a proper meal before they did something dangerous, “said the queen with a wink.
“Mother, who will the seven be that accompanies Kerwyn?” asked Erlina, her head down cast.
“The party will consist of the four Cyclopes because they are fierce fighters and Kerwyn and his master deserve to have a strong fighting force. Not many would engage a fifteen-foot cyclops, let alone four of them. The dwarf will also go as he has made it known that where the Cyclopes go, he goes. That’s five and when you add in Master Sernett and Kerwyn that brings us to a count of seven. I know you are disappointed, my dear, but you are too valuable to our people to risk your getting hurt or, worse, killed. Plus I will not have it said that I let you go chasing after a human boy even though he is now an elf. It just wouldn’t look right to our people. You know this Erlina; we talked about this and the infatuation that you have with Kerwyn will never be accepted. He is a human or, rather, was a human. Sorry Kerwyn no disrespect but you and my daughter come from two different worlds. Her place is here with the forest elves and your place is in the human world.
But enough about that; my decision is final and my daughter will respect my wishes and our people will always be indebted to you for your protection and for having healed me. For those acts alone the seven of you will be welcome here to the domain of the forest elves for all time and you will all be known as Elf Friends forever more. Your names will be added to our histories as those who saved the Elf Queen Elysia.
Now away everyone and let poor Kerwyn get up and wash so he can meet us in the great hall for breakfast,” the queen’s tone had a note of finality that no one would ever question or argue with. As the queen and Master Sernett turned to leave, the queen looked over her shoulder and said, “That means you to, Erlina. You will have your chance to say goodbye to Kerwyn after we finish breakfast. Also, Master Faunus, wanted to have a conversation with Kerwyn in private before he leaves tomorrow.” With that the queen left the room.
“Don’t be long, Kerwyn, we need to see if you can undo the barrier before we make plans to leave,” said Master Sernett as he followed behind the queen.
“Well I guess I have to leave you as well. I really wanted to go on this journey with you. My mother is so strict. I should sneak out and meet you all on the path to Druantia’s,” said Erlina.
“No, Erlina, your mother was very clear on the fact that she wants you to be safe; and being around me isn’t her idea of a safe. I think that it would be better if you stayed here, safe and sound. I’m sure we’ll be back after we meet Druantia and get some answers for my questions. Besides, we’ll need to come back this way again to get home,” said Kerwyn.
“You just don’t want me there! You’re scared of my mother and what she said about you and I not being allowed to be together. Well, I have news for her; you’re not a human anymore. You’re more elf then human and you are welcome in our home, she said so herself. You will always be welcome in our domain and maybe with the way you look now you might not be welcome in the human world anymore either. This conversation is not over between you and I.
I like you and I think that you like me too. You’re a wizard and so am I, which means that we would have a very long life together. Maybe not forever, but a good, long time just the same. Also, who knows how long you will live now that you are an elf, well, at least on the outside,” Erlina got up and walked to the door. She turned back for one last look at him. Then she opened the door and was gone.
Kerwyn stayed in bed for another fifteen minutes trying to figure out what to do. He certainly liked Erlina but would he chance upsetting the entire Forest Elvin domain just to be with a woman who would outlive him by perhaps centuries? Could he put her through that much grief with her mother who had been clear that this was just an infatuation and basically told Kerwyn that once he left, he was not to come kn
ocking on her daughter’s door again? Could he really leave her and not come back to win her hand? Kerwyn knew that he liked her more than just liked her and the more he thought about it the more in love with her he felt. It was almost as if there was something inside of him telling him that it was meant to be. Just like that first time he had used his special sight on her, he knew their fates were intertwined. He just didn’t know what to do. Perhaps after a good breakfast he'd have better insight his problem. Hopeful and hungry, Kerwyn got out of bed, cleaned up and got dressed. As he was walked out of his room he turned and looked at his bed and thought how funny it was that you sleep in something so much but when you walk away from it, that’s the only time it is really missed. Closing the door Kerwyn made his way to the great hall for breakfast.
Kerwyn entered the Great Hall and had to do a double take; the hall wasn’t as big as it had been on the first night. It was still huge but not massive like it was the first time he had been in here. Elvin magic at work again. Either that or the trees themselves could make things perfect for any occasion.
Kerwyn walked towards Master Sernett who happened to be sitting beside the queen again and if Kerwyn didn’t know any better, he'd say that Master Sernett had a crush on the Queen like he himself had on Erlina. But if his Master did he would never admit to it, and Kerwyn would never ask. This was his master and these are things the master never talked about. The only thing was that he wouldn’t blame his master if he did have a crush. The queen was an amazingly beautiful woman, She had the same build as her daughter, she was petite but you could see that she had an amazing figure hidden under her robes. She had the same Honey coloured hair that Erlina had and she commanded an air of authority unlike any other he had ever seen, also she and Master Sernett "looked" to be about the same age; about fifty to fifty five years old. Anyway, he thought to himself, he would never interfere with his master or any woman that he was interested in. Kerwyn had too much respect to ever do that.
“Kerwyn, my boy, take a seat. Breakfast is just being served,” said his master.
A group of Elvin cooks brought out the most wonderful smelling eggs and bacon. Also, there was roast beef, cold turkey and wild boar. The potatoes were sliced thin and baked over an open flame oven making them extra crispy and Kerwyn was happy to see those wonderful dripping honey squares that he had loved so much. With all of the great food, he didn’t know what to eat and what not to eat, aware that he only had enough room for so much food in his stomach. Making the most out of a delicious meal and eating as much as he possibly could, Kerwyn had to push himself away from the table. If he was to eat anymore food, he figured he'd burst.
“Now, Master Kerwyn, do you think that you’re ready to try and open up the barrier so we won’t be stuck in here for all time? Already our wild meat and vegetables are starting to become scarce, not to mention that we do not have any honey left, as we did not bring Honeybees in with us. A mistake that I assure you will be fixed once we can get out and get some bees along with the rest of the supplies we need,” said the queen.
“Yes, Your Majesty, I am ready to try and open the barrier.” Getting up from his spot at the table Kerwyn looked to see where Erlina was, as she hadn’t come for breakfast yet. He was worried about her and hoped that she wouldn’t do anything silly. Walking outside still hurt his eyes as the sun was bright and shining but as he made his way toward the barrier, Kerwyn noticed that he was getting quite the audience following him. It looked like a parade had started and he was at the head of it. Looking back it was eerily silent for the amount of people who were following him. Usually with this many people there would have been quite a bit of noise. But not today, Today’s parade was a silent one.
Approaching the barrier, the first thing Kerwyn noticed was how much it shimmered and pulsed. It was constantly moving and shifting. It looked like living energy was moving around preventing anyone from entering or exiting through it. Kerwyn closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. In-and-out. In-and-out. Finally, Kerwyn reached out to try to feel the One Power shifting within the barrier. Kerwyn snapped his eyes open and turned to call out for his master to come quickly to the front. Master Sernett seeing the look on Kerwyn’s face rushed to the front alone with just the queen and her personal guards.
“What is it, Kerwyn, what do you see?” asked his master with concern in his voice.
“Master, this barrier is much like the trees that I changed in the forest. This barrier is alive and it is talking to me. It is asking if I want to go out into the forest. It is also telling me that the elves have just been rude and have been trying to break their way through. It is telling me that all that was needed was a polite request to let them through, and it would have let them out.
It feels as though the elves are bullies and are very inconsiderate of its feelings,” said Kerwyn above the growing hubbub and excited talk of the elves. Kerwyn heard a few of the elves say thanks to him for making it so that they were not trapped in their domain forever. But he also heard others getting angry at the barrier for calling them rude. They were shouting that if they had known that the barrier was alive, they would have tried talking to it before now. Kerwyn started to concentrate on the barrier’s words again and he realized that the elves couldn’t understand it. Closing his eyes and trying to draw in the One Power, Kerwyn still couldn’t feel it to draw from. So he concentrated on the flows of energy within himself took a deep breath, saying, “Reddo Sic Elves Can Agnosco” and with a gesture of his hands, Kerwyn pointed to the barrier and a flash of blue light passed over it. The next thing he heard was the barrier talking in Elvish. The expression on the faces of the elves that were close enough to hear was one of bewilderment and disbelief. One of the braver elves came up beside Kerwyn and asked the barrier if he could pass through so they could go and find some honeybees for their honey squares. The barrier stopped talking for just a few seconds; long enough to say that it would be happy to let the elf out so it could get some honey. As the barrier spoke, it shimmered and opened like curtains, allowing access to the forest beyond. The elf that had asked permission stepped through and turned to show that he was on the other side. More and more elves came to the barrier to ask for permission to cross and each time the barrier agreed to let the elves go on their way.
A great cheer went up and Kerwyn’s name was heard being chanted above all other sounds. Back and forth the elves went from the forest and back to their homes again. This was even better than what they had before. Now they would always have a sentient being standing watch over the forest Elvin domain.
Again, Master Sernett shook his head at what a marvel his apprentice was becoming. Kerwyn was turning trees into living beings with their own personalities and he now turned a pure energy barrier into a sentient living thing as well. Master Sernett wondered what Kerwyn’s next miracle would be. Master Sernett was already getting worried about Kerwyn’s use of the dark necromancer magic since Erlina told him about Kerwyn’s use of it on the shrieker. Kerwyn shouldn’t have been able to cast any magic right now, let alone any of the dark magic that were forbidden for everyone’s safety. Shaking his head again, Master Sernett went back to his room. The next few days would be interesting to say the least and he had better go and get prepared because once the journey began, things could become very dangerous and he would need to know every trick and spell he had ever learnt to survive. Turning around, he spied Kerwyn and followed the lad’s gaze to where Erlina stood with sad-looking eyes. Master Sernett knew that there was something special between those two and that one way or another there would be trouble for both of them later.
Heading back towards his room, Master Sernett wondered, “Why Kerwyn? He is such a normal boy.”
By the time Kerwyn made it back to his room it was already well past midnight. Once the elves were able to access the barrier, a huge party followed. The elves that went out found enough honey to last them for quite some time and they also acquired their own Honeybees so that they would never again run short on t
he wonderful golden liquid. The hunters returned with lots of meat and there was wild boar, deer, partridge and even some animals that Kerwyn wasn’t sure what they were but he was told, they were delicious.
The queen ordered a feast and a celebration because, come morning, their guests would be leaving on an adventure to go and see the forest witch. Kerwyn had to admit that the one thing elves did very well was throw a party. There was so much food that it would have taken weeks just to eat it all. There were lots of liquor and plenty of ale for anyone who wanted it. Then there was the music and dancing and until you have heard elf play music; you have not heard music at all. It was the most beautiful music Kerwyn had ever heard and when the Elvin people wanted to dance, their bodies became an extension of the music. The party was still going strong when Kerwyn left to go to bed. When he got to his room he noticed that his door was open just a crack. Cautiously Kerwyn opened the door wondering why someone would have entered his room. Looking around, all he could see was something had been left on his bed with a note. Walking over to it, Kerwyn picked up what looked like an expensive silver broach with a large red ruby in the center of it. Looking it over, Kerwyn saw that there were runes inscribed all over the back of it and, looking deeply into the ruby, he could see there were runes marked on it as well. Picking up the note, Kerwyn began to read:
Kerwyn,
I know that you and I are meant to be together but for the time being my mother has forbidden our union. I know that you love me and I know that I love you. No matter what my mother says, you and I are destined for great things. I can feel it in my soul that you and I will one day be allowed to be together and I hold you in my heart until that day.