ELO

  "Well, neither of us are here for our problems. We're here to give Bree a grand old time. I'm sorry, Bree, I hope our arguing hasn't ruined your visit here." Bree shook her head, still surprised by the elf’s offer to help lift her curse. Elo passed out plates that she had gotten from the upstairs kitchen. She served the tea into tiny golden cups placing the biscuits on matching plates. Bree stared at the drinking vessels; they were so shiny Bree wondered if they were real gold. If they were, she thought one was probably enough to buy her entire village. Bree felt depressed at the thought. Elo said grace, and Faelorn sat awkwardly beside Bree. He was so large that he filled the space beside her, and his knee smashed into hers. She was very aware of his body and warmth. She shivered when he pressed his leg against hers. He apologized, red faced, trying to cram himself into the corner between the wall and the table. Faelorn muttered grace then held out his teacup for Elo to fill. Bree hid a giggle; he looked a little silly, holding such a tiny dainty gold cup in his large hands. Elo served the piping hot golden biscuits. She pulled out a jar of jam and a thin knife from the basket. Opening the jar, Elo spread thick berry jam over the large biscuits. She served everyone, even Cael, who greedily snatched it from her hand. Bree slid a plate to Faelorn then took a plate for herself. Elo sat next to her, and all three dug into their meal. Bree bit into the biscuit, and a smile broke on her face. She had never tasted anything so delicious. The biscuits were firm on the outside but soft in the middle. They tasted of wheat and butter, and when they touched her tongue, the biscuit melted. The jam, she thought, oh the sweetness! She would not have dreamed of having tasted anything so heavenly and gentle. Bree groaned and served herself another biscuit.

  "I take it you never tasted anything so good" said Elo staring at her, blushing. Bree, embarrassed, nodded. At her old village, it had been nothing but fish and hardy loaves of bread. Cael finishing his biscuit, attempted to dive into the basket, but Elo had preemptively wrapped the biscuits with a soft cloth. Elo scolded, "Oh no, you don't, you little bugger. You need to eat properly with a plate; I'm sick of you diving into food as if others aren't going to touch it. It's rude," Cael angrily stomped out of the basket to comically sit on the table with his arms crossed. Elo growled, "I saw you stuffing your face when you thought no one was looking; how many have you had?" The fairy pouted pridefully, Elo served him another biscuit glaring all the while, "that's right, use a plate, you savage, or your wings won't be the only thing that gets chopped off."

  Bree ate until she was bursting with the biscuits, which seemed endless. As soon as one was gone, another would appear in the basket. Finally, after an hour of small talk and watching the birds or staring at beautiful flowers. Faelorn rose to clear the empty plates stacking them neatly, "We should leave; it will almost be nightfall by the time we start heading into the forest." Bree looked around, despite her awkward interaction with Tharin. She didn't want to leave; she wanted to leaf through the books and watch the birds for hours. Thinking of Tharin and how he seemed to know about her curse made her stomach turn. Elo carried the dirty dishes to the kitchens, returning quickly. Bree took one wistful glance around, longing to stay and read over the books. Faelorn took a deep breath, changing into a beast. He headed down the stairs and towards the massive wooden doors. Elo still human darted after him.

  Bree followed them out the door stopping to take one last glance at the library and its many treasures. The door sealed behind her, barely missing Cael as he hopped past her. Bree bit her lip, remembering the rubble where the machine had been. She had almost forgotten about discovering the mechanism. Faelorn and Elo padded ahead. Elo transformed into a deer. Faelorn turned back, leaning forward on his forelegs." I can give you a ride." Bree mounted, she had many questions, but her voice was simply too damaged to continue speaking. The scroll and charcoal were in her pocket, so she could not write to Faelorn. Bitterly she held on to Faelorn’s antlers, and she clung to his long neck. Cael leaped up to nestled in Faelorn's mane, the little fairy curled up and burrowed, falling asleep. Elo trotted ahead, leading the way home. Faelorn followed, heading over the hills towards the ruins and into the dark and foggy forest.

  The trees seemed darker and more prominent than Bree remembered, and she clung to Faelorn's warm neck. Elo bounded over fallen logs, huffing noisily. "Well, I think I overate! I just want to take a nap. Faelorn, maybe we should turn back and stay the nights at Tharin's!" Faelorn tossed his head, pushing past clawing branches. He said, "no, he's swamped, Elo. I still don't appreciate how you behaved." Elo glanced at Bree, who clung to Faelorn's neck. Her eyes were closed, Elo assumed she was sleeping, she said. "Poor dear, what do you think Tharin wanted with her?" Faelorn paused, "I'm not sure, I'm sure that Tharin has his reasons."

  Elo grunted, huffing to keep up with Faelorn."I know that Joltrun trusts him inherently, but I'm not sure I will ever forgive him." Elo leaped over a thicket of bushes surging ahead of them. Faelorn sighed, "Elo, today was about Bree and helping her feel better." Faelorn pushed forward, and the fog licked at his cloven hoofs. He kept talking. "I know you're angry with Tharin, but I owe him my life. Elves aren't like humans; they are very straight forward about the truth. They put logic over emotions." Bree listened quietly, not noticing that Elo had not reappeared from a thicket of bushes. He continued, "Today was just a bit of fun. Now you and Bree can focus on finding your paths. I will return to business as usual." Faelorn tensed, stopping searching for Elo. He said, "Elo, did you hear me?"

  Bree hugged Faelorn's neck, the fog rose, and it felt cold. He called "Elo!" Bree glanced around, sitting up properly, the forest had gotten darker, so dark that it was black. Cael wined, shivering in the sudden chill. Faelorn hissed, "Something isn't right. I choose the safest path to the spring. Its been many years since any bereaved or witches have walked here. I would have sensed them, or Tharin would have warned me." Faelorn craned his long neck, his ears pressed flat. A growl rumbled in his chest. Bree hugged him tightly, his vines moved and wrapped around her waist protectively. He said, "Bree, stay alert, pull my ears if you see Elo and point. If you notice anything that isn't human at all, kick my sides."

  Bree tensed, shivering in the sudden impossible cold. Faelorn turned around, tracking Elo's footprints. He launched himself off the ground, and through the thicket, he trod carefully searching for tracks. There was the sound of a moan that was not human. The mist rolled in, and Bree's teeth chattered. She pressed herself into Faelorn’s fur for warmth. This felt familiar. It was just like the night she had been saved. She pushed her fear away, determined to stay level headed and vigilant. She could feel Cael quaking at her side; the fae held onto her curling into her chest. Bree straitened up. She might not be like Faelorn, but she had been a hunter before her enslavement. She had to protect Cael, and she would be Faelorn's eyes behind his head. Faelorn searched for Elo's tracks; taking a deep breath, he tried to catch her scent. Bree strained her eyes, looking in the opposite direction. The world was gray with fog; Bree caught a glimpse of a moving shadow. Cold fear washed over her belly. Tentacles reached for her, a human figure moved among the trees. When it saw that she saw it, it leaped away. Bree kicked Faelorn’s sides hard. She pointed in the direction the shadow had fled—the figure gave a high pitch call and a scream. Faelorn grew larger and more muscular. He went from stag to bear. He was all monster, and with a bellow like a lion, he returned the call.

  Silence fell over them. Bree was almost deaf from the cry, and she covered her ears. Faelorn reared, his cloven hoofs changing, morphing. His feet were now claws, and his muzzle sprouted fangs. The vines around her waist tightened defensively, more vines sprang from his neck, and they grew thick with blackthorns. His voice was no longer human. He challenged, "I smell you witch, and if you come closer, I will consume your soul" The high-pitched moan groaned once again but seemed to fade away. Bree's heart was in her throat; everything was still. She wondered, was it over?

  A shadow leaped and attempted to grab her, but as soon as the shearing claws touche
d her flesh. Faelorn's vines tore at the witch, ripping her arm from her body, spraying hot blood on Bree. Faelorn's other vines pulled Bree down and slid her down to his chest. Bree held Cael like a baby pushing him close to her breast. The witch screamed in frustration—Faelorn's eyes were black.

  The witch leapt high into a tree. Her naked voluptuous body exposed her horned head covered in her own blood. "Child of the Forest… you belong to me. She belongs to me. Faelorn, my precious child. My sweet little boy. Come home, you can hear my calling." she stroked her breast longingly, smiling at Faelorn coyly.

  Faelorn gave an enraged scream; his body was shaped like a bear, and he walked on two legs, his vines cradling Bree, his clawed paws swinging at the witch, shattering her branch. The witch gave a sweet giggle and disappeared. She mocking called, "you can't escape Faelorn, you and not your little friend." The witch snapped her fingers and vanished into thin air. From where she had been standing, a shadow rose. Stinking of death, a black creature made from rot with glowing orange eyes shambled towards them. Faelorn swiped the creature sending it flying. The worst part was that the shambling mess of rot began sobbing. Bree felt tears fill her eyes involuntary. The memories of her enslavement hit her hard. She could hardly stand to recall the abusive beatings, being denied food, and being told repeatedly that she was worthless. She began sobbing, and Faelorn said gently. "Do not cry, it was bereaved. It is a mercy to put it to death." With that, he extended his jaws and ripped the creature to pieces. The sobbing was terrible, and it let out a death gurgle, as Faelorn finished it off. His vines had rendered it apart faster than the eye could see. The fog lifted, and silence filled the forest. A quiet breeze rattled the tree branches. Bree dared to look around; Faelorn was breathing extremely hard. He gently placed her and Cael on the ground. Bree sat stunned, her shoulder's ached were the witch had raked her. The wound was nothing more than a red scratch, but her shirt was torn.

  "Bree, are you hurt?" Faelorn asked, looking her over.

  Bree shook her head; Faelorn sat down, his bearlike body shrinking, and he looked like a grand mound of moss and hair. Cael leaped onto Faelorn and began chattering gently into Faelorn's deer-like ears. Bree got up, shaking, and examined Faelorn; there was no blood, and he seemed unharmed. However, when Bree approached, she saw that his face was hidden, he rested on the ground for a moment. In the mass of mossy, flowers, and hair, she thought she saw an orange glow in his eyes. Faelorn got back up on all fours, and with a moan, he shifted back into his human form.

  Vines, flowers, hair all retreated into his body, and he groaned as his body was arched in pain. He kneeled. Cael hopped away and climbed up Bree's shoulder. Faelorn was covered in sweat, shaking he stood. Bree grabbed his hand. He looked at her and forced a smile.

  "I'm-I'm-I'm-fine… just shaken. The witch is gone; we need to find Elo. I spotted her tracks before we were ambushed." He lead Bree down a trail. She squeezed his hand, longing to ask questions.

  She touched his face staring at him in awe and a little fear. Faelorn was unreadable, he said, "I told you, I'm no longer a man. I'm just- I'm-I'm a beast. Witches hunt me all the time. They are made of lies, don't believe anything they say. Now Bree, please, I'm okay… I'm not hurt. We need to track Elo and make sure that she's okay." Bree nodded, indicating that she understood. He muttered, "There I see her tracks, the witch was trying to distract me from them."

  Bree held Faelorn's hand firmly. He did not pull away but did not look at her as he followed the tracks. They must have walked for a mile, following deer prints until they were in a clearing lit with moonlight.

  Faelorn shook his head, "I should have turned back and listened to Elo."

  As they approached the clearing, Bree was surprised, shocked even that she saw a barn. Faelorn stiffened, their eyes met Bree mouthed, "What?" He said, "we need to find her and get her out." They stood just outside the door. "Bree promise me that if anything happens. You'll run back into the forest, and you will call to the spirit of the king in your time of need." Bree made a face at the strange request. After seeing Faelorn's worried look, she nodded and mouthed a whisper, "I promise."

  Faelorn pushed the barn door open. Bree heard sobbing as she entered, and the door swiveled open. The barn was enormous, long dried up straw decorated the floor. No animals dwelled inside, and it seemed long abandoned. The walls were thick with ashes that rained from the ceiling.

  Faelorn nervously called "E-E-E..." he took a deep breath. "Elo?"

  Bree walked beside him. Elo was covered in ash; she was in the center of the barn. The white doe was in her human form, hugging her knees. Her hair covered her face, she was sobbing. Faelorn ran to her. "Elo, you need to get up right now and get out of here…" Bree felt her hairs on her arms raised. She heard scuttling outside the barn, and the wood creaked as something scurried along the rafters. Faelorn grabbed Elo, who seemed shocked as if he had just materialized in front of her. Her face was ruddy, her eyes swollen from crying. She sobbed, "Faelorn, Bree...I thought I'd lost you." Faelorn brushed ashes from her face and shoulders gently. "It's alright, let's go home." Bree noticed a pitchfork lying on the side of the barn. It was rusted, and she picked it up holding it defensively.

  Bree held her breath, the sound had stopped, but she had a distinct feeling that they where being watched. Faelorn lead Elo towards the door, and Bree brought up the rear. She turned back, looking into the barn, Bree saw a pair of icy eyes watching her. Bree let out a squawk of fear and, with all her strength, threw the pitchfork. The pitchfork landed where the eyes had been, Faelorn's vines sprang into action. There was nothing there, but another noise just outside the barn door made him double back and attack. His vines this time snapped up someone who yelped in surprise.

  It was Tharin holding a lantern, no doubt swearing-in elvish at Faelorn. Faelorn put him down immediately. He stuttered, "I-I-I didn't know. I'm sorry." Tharin took a deep breath brushing off his blue robes. Bree stared; they had only seen him maybe an hour earlier, but he was dressed entirely differently. Tharin said, "The map showed me that you needed aid, I came as soon as possible." To Bree's surprise, Feanu flew down from a tree, landing neatly on Tharin's shoulder. Faelorn took a deep breath, he said, "We were ambushed." Tharin nodded, "I saw, I also saw that your peasant friend had wandered from the group." Elo wiped her eyes. "You came out here to save me, you of all people?"

  Tharin glared at her coolly. "I came where I was needed, Faelorn was less likely to need aid. I see that you didn't turn into a bereaved, so I must have come in time." Elo, shaken, asked, "Where did this barn come from? It looks..." Elo shivered, "It looks like the barn I died in." Tharin took a deep breath scanning the woods. " The witch was trying to trigger you. She must have cast a spell to draw out your negative emotions." Elo looked back at the barn. " It's not real," Tharin shook his head. "It is, and it isn't. It's really a copy of your deepest fear. The witch was trying to turn you into a bereaved Elo." Elo balked. "No, that would never happen..." Tharin hissed, "It's what those foul creatures do. They torture other beings and attempt to corrupt them. Your lucky your friends found you. Those ashes on your body, they are part of the spell, and they are one of the first signs of bereavement." Elo went to stand by Faelorn; she was pale and shaking. Faelorn hissed to Tharin. "Tharin, it's still mid-afternoon; the witch tried to ambush us before nightfall." Tharin looked at Faelorn grimly. “Lately, I've observed behavior pattern changes; you must stay vigilant, Faelorn."

  Faelorn sighed, "I shouldn’t have taken Bree to visit you; it was a mistake."

  Before, Bree could interject and protest. She was seized with a fit of coughing. Her mouth filled with blood. The noise she had made had hurt her so much that her vocal cords felt torn. Tharin pulled out a vial. "Here its made from blood's wort; it should help." Bree took the vial, sniffed it, then looked at Faelorn and Elo. Faelorn gently said, "It's safe, I trust Tharin with my life." She sipped the bitter liquid but found that it warmed her throat. Tharin said, "That medicine should help with your sor
e throat. It wasn't ready when you arrived last week." Bree was bewildered. Hadn't they only seen him moments ago? Tharin lead the way through the trees. He said, "I suppose the witch is on the move again." Faelorn quietly said, "I know what your thinking. I handled myself just fine." Tharin glanced at Bree, " What about the girl? Did she handle herself?" Elo snapped. "Her name is Bree." Bree frowned, wondering why Tharin didn't address her directly. Annoyed, Faelorn snorted, "she did well..." Tharin walked by Bree, he asked her, "Did Faelorn's eyes change color to orange..." Bree shook her head, shrugging. She wasn't sure if she had seen his eyes change. "No matter. Faelorn, you should do well not to visit me anymore. It was very foolish." Faelorn sighed, "I can handle myself, Tharin. Bree and I did just fine without you."

  Tharin was looking her up and down. Bree felt nauseous with nerves, Tharin clipped his lantern to his belt. Bree noticed that he had a bow and arrow strapped to his back. He said, "I will escort you to the spring."

  Elo was shaking still in her human form. Faelorn wordlessly picked her up with his vines and placed her on his back. He then scooped up Bree, and she sat sidesaddle behind Elo. Faelorn’s vines kept them in place. It wasn't long until Faelorn was galloping in the forest. Tharin kept pace running up trees and leaping as graceful as any deer. They cleared the woods, and Bree saw the familiar sight of the waterfall and pool. White deer slept peacefully beside the pool. Bakura was in her human form watching over the herd. She turned to watch Faelorn and the small group walk the trail to the spring. A fire was lit in the back of the cave where it crackled merrily.