The sights and sounds of the forest were nothing as compared to the smell and feel of the damp air around her. Rose fell to her knees and a few tears slid down her cheeks and for a long moment she was silent, unmoving. “It’s like something out of a dream, it’s so beautiful.”
“Your tears are far more kind than your words my dear. This is the last forest on the face of this continent. This place is the last hope for a world beaten down and battered to the ground. This is our home, a secret we defend with our lives.”
“I have no words to describe it.” Liostro was in awe as well as he swept his gaze across the living relic from the past. “I never thought in a thousand years I would see such a sight.”
“Now that you have seen it, you know what it is we protect.” Queen Miralastra piped in to the conversation as she turned around and regarded the two newcomers. “Your job first and foremost is to the family and to this forest; you will protect it with your lives.”
Liostro and Rose both looked at each other for a moment as the young knight helped her up to her feet. The both of them removed the desert clothing that had been draped over their normal clothing and stuffed it into the packs they carried. They were silent as the long procession of elves walked down an enormous set of stairs carved into the mountain leading down to the valley below. They could feel the age of the ancient forest as they stepped down onto the moist loam and grass. A plethora of colors greeted them, all a stark contrast from the drab yellows and reds of the desert sands or the cracked earth of the scrublands and desert tundra. The air was thicker here, making it a little hard for both Liostro and Rose to breathe at first.
“The whole region used to look like this?” Rose marveled as she touched one of the trees reverently with her fingertips. She felt a light jolt as she traced the age-old bark and then pulled her hands away. A presence entered her mind for a moment then withdrew and she got the feeling that she was invited into this place, as if it had welcomed her home. “I can feel a presence in the trees here, older than time. It feels benevolent.”
“Amazing.” Leonidus said as he scratched his chin and regarded Rose thoughtfully. He had only seen two people in his long lifetime that could talk to the guardian of the forest so easily. “What did it say to you Rose?”
“It didn’t really say anything but it felt as if I was just welcomed me home.” She turned to her tutor and friend and regarded him with a curious gaze. “Why is everyone looking at me like that?”
“Turn around my dear.” Leonidus pointed behind her and fell to one knee along with the rest of them save for Rose. Even Liostro went down to one knee, Leonidus observed.
Rose turned on her heel and got a slight start when one of the trees in the forest moved and walked toward her. Her body felt frightened as if it would be a good idea to run and hide but her mind felt a sense of peace and the intertwined feelings were slightly overwhelming. The grizzled looking tree had long arms that almost dragged to the ground and long legs that ended in a series of roots. The bark that covered it was enclosed in moss and vines. It had a wide body and a wide face but it looked more like an old grandfather than a monster. It was obvious that this ancient being was the one who had welcomed her. When she gathered her courage she looked up at the tangled mass of branches and leaves that sprouted from its head and regarded the gnarled face with a nose and mouth that looked like an old man. Its eyes were the most remarkable, they were a deep forest green with swirling motes of lighter green colors that moved and danced all their own. “I know you.”
“Young soul of an ancient blood line, I feel your presence here and you are welcome within my domain.” The large tree’s voice boomed across the forest like thunder during a storm. “I know you as well as I know my own trees and I have been waiting a long time for you to come home.”
“Me?” Rose replied almost sheepishly as she regarded the powerful being. She almost flinched when he knelt down in front of her and ran his gnarled fingers across her mane. “I don’t understand.”
“You will in time young one, you will in time. Time is all we have as a matter of fact. But I tire easily these days; I have a gift for you.” She watched the old tree reach into a patch of moss at his chest and pull a small object out, handing it to her. “This was left in my care years ago, intended for you.”
Rose took the glimmering amulet from him and admired it for a moment. It was fashioned from some sort of wood and polished to a shine. It was white and grey carved in the form of a small compass rose. The chain it was secured to was a silvery metal that felt cold and hard to the touch and even with such small links it felt sturdy. “I thank you, uh what should I call you?”
“Al’talesh’matar, guardian of the lost wood.” He replied through a wood and mossy bearded smile.
“My thanks to you Al.” She shortened it and smiled up at him, running her hand across his long digit. “Who left it in your care?”
“I grow weary young one, I must rest.” He replied to her question, standing to his full height and turning back into the forest only to disappear into the thick brush as silently as she had ever seen anything so big move. She heard a whisper grace her ear seconds later, causing it to twitch forward slightly. “Questions are for a later time.”
Rose was awestruck for a moment, whispers began to formulate behind her and she heard small snippets of the conversations. Rose heard something about druids and trees, the guardian. Her grasp of their language was still not tight so she did not understand everything as she turned around to regard the elves around her, particularly the queen who was staring at her with daggers in her gaze. Rose put the medallion on and slipped it underneath her tunic then turned to Leo. “I don’t understand. Who was that and what just happened?”
“That my dear was the last remaining treeguard, or treant. He is as ancient as this forest and in my life time I have never heard of him coming out of hibernation to speak to anyone let alone give them a gift. You are a rare gem indeed young Rose.” He smiled and put an arm around her shoulders, leading her along the path further toward their city. As he spoke again his voice was loud enough that the elves around him, and his daughter in particular, heard him clearly. “Ignore the queen; her jealousy is legendary.”
“No matter where I go someone is jealous or angry at me for something I did not do. I know life is not fair but this is ridiculous.” Rose found herself angry at the queen, angry at her life as she thought about everyone who had been close to her in the past and all those who coveted that which she had no control over. “I just don’t understand people as much as I thought I did, their motivations puzzle me.”
“Your purity and innocence is refreshing.” Leonidus replied to that statement while wearing a grin. “And you’re quite pretty when you’re angry as well.”
“Impossible man.” She chided him as a grin grew across her features. She couldn’t stay mad while talking to him; he had a way of disarming people. It was just too bad that it didn’t seem to work on his daughter as well.
“You are not the first, nor the last, to say that to me.” He chuckled and gave her shoulders a light squeeze. “Listen, the queen will want to bring you before the council as soon as we get in and I don’t think you want to visit the council in your traveling clothes. When you settle in I am going to send you to our tailor to have an outfit made forthwith.”
“I take it this is something I don’t have a choice in?”
“Unfortunately no.” Leo suddenly swept his arm out in front of him. “Welcome to the home of the elves.”
“Where?” She began but found herself following his outstretched arm upward. To her amazement she saw rounded houses affixed to the trees above her with walkways that spanned across both vast and short distances between the towering wooden giants. Each seemed to be growing out of the wood itself instead of having been built around the trees. The walkways around the buildings were the same; they were not attached to the trees but growing out of them. In the center of this was a colossal tree. It seemed that it wou
ld take hundreds of elves linked at the hands to put their arms around the massive trunk. The tree itself had windows and balconies built into the sides and a long spiral staircase spanning the entire trunk. Lights were shining on the insides of the windows. This symbiotic relationship with nature felt right to her as opposed to the cold unfeeling palace she had lived in her entire life. “Wow.”
“Indeed.” Leo chuckled as he led her toward the stairway heading upwards.
~~~~
The balcony below her was wooden, just like every other structure in the city. Rose stood by the hand rail of the room she had been provided and gazed out from the Mother of the Forest. That was the name of the central tree where the palace and council chambers were. She watched the motes of light dance in the windows of the various houses around the city. Currently she was dressed in her grey tunic and breeches, the simple garments suited her. That thought made her wonder idly where her abilities had come from and why she had been chosen above all others. Behind her sat a comfortable chair made of wood and a moss-colored fabric for the seat and backing.
Rose sat down on the plush chair and sighed placing her elbow on the rail and then her chin on her palm. She had removed her shoes; it felt good to walk around without them finally. Her feet were as such that under most circumstances she did not require shoes. She had bathed after the long trip, indulging in the strange magic that heated up the water that the tree provided to the room. It was amazing to have water freely flowing in such a convenient manner let alone to have a wood-and-metal tub that heated the water on command. Once she and her clothes were clean she had put her hair up in a bun and commenced the long waiting game. She had been told to wait for the royal tailor and to remain in her quarters while she was a ‘guest’ of the elves.
The guest part had been accentuated by placing a guard outside her door ‘in case she needed something’. Rose snorted in amusement at the thought. The queen had allowed her to become her daughter’s prime guardian but she did not trust Rose to walk the palace on her own. The thought perplexed her. “What does she have against me? I have done nothing to her.”
“I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, it was the same with some of the girls in the harem.” Rose shrugged her sculpted shoulders and sighed again. She had the urge to explore this place and possibly the royal library. That was what she wanted to do the most was to walk through the shelves and read any lore she could get her hands on. “Patience Rose, things will get better right?”
A knock on the door signaled the tailor had arrived. “Come in.”
She met eyes with a blue eyed elf with wild brown hair in silken finery. The woman wore a tunic and breeches that most-likely cost more than feeding the harem girls for a month. It was dark blue to contrast with her light skin and blue eyes and it had frills around the cuffs with a low-dipping V in the chest area. She carried with her a bundle and a pouch on her back. “Greetings, you are Marna?”
“I am, and you must be Rose.” The serious-looking elf woman smiled, disarming Rose immediately. “My, my, Leon told me you were lovely but his praise fell short by a long mile. It’s dreadful that I don’t have the material here to match that lovely fur, will you come with me back to my shop?”
“You are too kind. I would but the queen has ordered me not to leave my room until she calls for me.” Rose blushed at the compliment but she couldn’t help the frown that followed it at the mention of her current status within the elven court.
“Worry not, Leon gave me the okay to move you if need be. We’ll just drag your ‘escort’ along with us.” The pretty elf winked at her and walked over, taking Rose’s arm in her own and leading her out of the door. “Barius, would you accompany us to my shop?”
“She is under orders not to leave.” He said simply, looking over at Rose apologetically.
“Leonidus gave me full authority to move her to my shop to get a dress fitted so snap to and lead the way young sunblade.” Marna snapped her fingers and made a ‘shoo’ gesture with her hand, forcing Barius to move along toward her shop. “Don’t let Mira push you around, you’re supposed to be a guest here I thought.”
“As did I but I am being treated like a prisoner or a criminal.” She replied in a soft voice, drawing another look from Barius. “Fear not, I know that you are only following orders.”
“Thank you.” He said simply.
“You did quite a good job fixing him up like that Rose.” Marna said as she indicated Barius with her hand. “Word is spreading throughout the city about you.”
“That makes me a bit uncomfortable.” She replied awkwardly.
“I would think ill of you if you had said otherwise.” Marna laughed and kissed Rose on the cheek as they walked through an open doorway into her workspace. There were wooden mannequins in the form of elves, humans, and even dwarves and naarabi. Every space was covered with cloth or thread and other types of fabrics and items. It was amazing that Marna could find anything in the mess. The main room was huge and it had several dresses on display, many of them much more lovely than anything the Pasha had made her wear. Rose motioned to one of the dresses with her hand. “Why not one of those?”
“Oh no, you warrant something special young naarabi.” Marna waved her hand at the dresses on display as if they were junk and shook her head. “No none of this rubbish will do. By the way, the queen left some instructions for you. She said to follow them unquestioningly.”
~~~~
“Order, come to order, Queen Miralastra Sunmane current ruler of Atlathka calls for order in the council.” A rather sterile-looking prim and proper elf called out while rapping a metal-capped staff on the floor of the council chamber.
Rose watched from a side hallway near the queen’s dais. She could see the entire council room from her vantage point. It was amazing. The floor was made of marble, which looked strange in contrast to the white-dyed wooden walls but it added an air of professionalism to the whole scene. The council seats were plush bleacher-like stands that held about ten elves each and there were four of those seating platforms in the room with the queen’s own seat raised way above them. The decorations in the room ranged from expensive-looking statues to tapestries that had pictures and writing Rose could not read. The black-and-white floor was cold through her dainty slippers. She stopped looking at the room and focused on what was being said.
“My lords, we have retrieved the final book of the prophecy from its hidden location through the heroic efforts of my daughter Ninanthia and her new Blood Guard.” She held up her hand at the coming questions and continued. “The book is now in the hands of the Revered Father and the curator.”
“My queen.” One of the elves stood, he seemed old like Leonidus but without the cheery demeanor. He had dark hair and dark eyes and he wore blood-red clothing that did much to match the scowl on his face. “I have heard rumors about this Blood Guard, the council is curious to know this newcomer, this outsider.”
“She has been properly inducted into this house and will be referred to as such Councilman Taines.” Queen Mira held the man’s gaze for a long time, staring at the hawk-nosed elf with a challenge in her eyes.
“Apologies my queen.” He bowed low at the waist then stood straight. “The council would like to meet the new Blood question her accordingly.”
“And so you shall.” The queen motioned for Barius, who was dressed in finery and ornamental armor.
Rose followed the guard just as she had been instructed, keeping her head high and her shoulders squared. She wore a dress made of silk and velvet dyed black with dark red trim made out to look like blood as per her station. The dress was cut low in the back with red lace holding it together. The front had a low dipping V that showed just a bit of cleavage and each leg had a slit that rode up toward her thighs. Her slippers were red as well and Marna had thankfully made them loose so she would be more comfortable. The ensemble was topped off with her long hair framed around her face and then folded back upward into a top knot fastened with red bone rods. At
her hip she wore a long sword of a black metal she did not recognize with a hilt made of bone. It was decorated with patterns and jewels that glimmered and sparkled as she walked.
Rose had topped the entire thing off by clipping red jewels to the golden chain that went from her nose to her ear and donning the bracelets and rings that were connected via a chain that she had used during the dance, minus the veils. As she walked out onto the floor in front of the council she tried to look as confident as possible but the eyes on her were a little unnerving. Regardless she followed Barius to the podium in front of the queen’s station and stood behind it as she had been instructed. “I am Blood Guard Alethia Rose, vassal to Princess Ninanthia Sunmane and thrall to the Sunmane bloodline. I present myself to this council respectfully.”
Whispers went up among the many elves gathered and she definitely felt like a spectacle among them. Every one of them wore white and gold regalia whereas she, and the councilman, stood out as a stark contrast. Nina, who had been sitting silently on the queen’s platform, was quietly observing wearing the same white-and-blue robes like her mother. Among the whispers she could not understand the hawk-featured councilman in the red clothing smiled. It would be disarming if it did not feel like she was being sized by a predator.
“A rarity. So, Young Blood, obviously you are of naarabian descent. Favor us with your tale.” The man motioned to the elves around him. “Pray tell us what you were doing in the city before swearing your allegiance.”
“My past is just that, the past. I respectfully decline to answer that question Revered Councilman. I pray that you understand the reasoning for keeping my affairs private.” Rose heard the gasps and saw the scowl coming from the older man.
“You are obligated to reveal any and all details we request of you Young Blood; you are a member of this council and the royal family now. We must be sure that nothing from your past will threaten the lineage.” He countered with a heated tone.
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