ELO

by E. A. Cross

  "Why tell me so much?" Faelorn shook his head " I don't want you to idealize me. I'm not a magical warrior. I decided to be like an elf and tell you the entire truth, no matter the cost."

  Bree squeezed his hand; she signed letting go." Faelorn... If you hadn't killed the men torturing me, I would be dead. Maybe I would have become bereaved." Faelorn shivered, he said "I still have nightmares of that night. Tharin thinks it might have been a trap. I killed every man there but the handful that fled. The men who escaped were all peasants, nobodies they returned to their hovels, and a new nobleman claimed their lands." Bree flinched; it hurt to hear about her captors henchmen. Faelorn face broke. "Bree, I'm sorry, my life...is disgusting."

  Bree held him and let him cry. Faelorn tried to hold back his tears, but instead, he changed into a beast. He turned his stag like head to her and stared quietly—his eyes were mournful. Bree firmly signed to him. "I saw you kill the man that was my master..." Bree shook her head, holding Faelorn's face in her palms. She pressed her forehead to his then let go. "I can hardly remember my enslavement Faelorn. I wish I could tell you why they had me out there. All I know that this is my new life. I want you to be part of my new life." Faelorn touched her face with his muzzle. He said, "I don't regret saving you. I promised Joltrun I would never kill again unless it was to defend the woods or myself." Faelorn was shaking; he transformed back into a man. He slipped his arms around Bree in disbelief. Bree looked up at him and signed, "I'm glad you are honest with me." They sat together, cradled in the massive roots of a tree. They listened to the sound of birds chirping, and Bree leaned her head against his chest and listened to his heartbeat. It was a long moment. Bree was burning with one question, something that had bothered her since she had encountered the coven in the forest. Bree asked, signing, " That witch in the woods, she said your adopted mother was alive. Could she still be?" Faelorn face darkened but only for a moment. "I do not know. It's tricky. Witches lie; they can transform themselves into anyone. The witch in the woods, she was likely baiting me. My mother's transformation has changed her nature of existence. Ghouls cannot be killed by brute force alone. If somehow my mother was still alive, I would know, Joltrun guards her tomb in the fae graveyard. She is technically dead, and if she were alive and free, the spell on her tomb would tell us that its seal had been broken. Witches can read our fears, they probably said those things to fill me with fear."

  Bree sat in stunned silence. What Joltrun said to her that day in the woods with the sick fairy made more sense now. She signed feeling frantic, "Faelorn, are you in danger, more danger than you can handle even with your powers?" Faelorn looked at her and gave her a sad look; he did not answer her question. "I guess I did not have the best childhood. I do not mean to sadden you. I am glad I survived so that I could meet you." Bree felt tears in her eyes; she looked up at him. She signed,"I'm going, to be honest, too, Faelorn. I will tell you my story". Bree said everything she had told Tharin. She was surprised that he wept for her as she grieved for him. They held each other. Bree held his hand, admiring its shape. She leaned into his chest; he smelt of the trees, the forest plants, and musk. For a long time they stayed still, Bree gave him one last awkward kiss. When they broke apart, Faelorn mumbled, "we should go back sundown will be soon." Bree pulled herself away and slid her pack onto her shoulder. Faelorn transformed into his beast form, he lowered his neck and shoulders to the ground. "Let me carry you home; it will be faster and safer." Before Bree knew it, they were at the forest's edge. Bree dismounted, Faelorn transformed sheepishly " I can't go with you to the cave, I have to patrol the forest." Bree looked up at him. The forest was already becoming foreboding as the sun began to slip over the hills. Bree kissed him one last time. He pulled away, embarrassed, "I don't want the others to see, for now," Bree giggled. He brushed a strand of hair from her face. Bree started walking to the cave and spring that had become her home. She turned back to wave at Faelorn, who had already become a beast again. By the time Bree was at the foot of the cave. He disappeared into the woods.

  Chapter 22

  Bree ate dinner in silence, her mind on Faelorn. She thought about their long talk in the forest; his life story saddened her. Elo complained loudly, "Why did you take so long? I expected you back at midday! Faelorn must have taken the long way home. I'm going to give him an earful the next time he shows his sorry hide." Bree ignored the changeling's complaints. She dug into her second bowl of fish soup. The moment Bree stepped into the cave, Elo had bombarded her with many questions. Overwhelmed, Bree had decided to only tell Elo what was absolutely necessary. Elo, unsatisfied, complained loudly as she swept the cave. Bree ignored her and searched for Cael and found him nesting by her bed. When Cael saw Bree, he immediately sulked under her blankets. Bree approached the woodling and offered him the tea cake she had snagged from Tharin's observatory. Seeing her offering, he quickly forgave her and perched on her shoulder, eating messily. Bree looked outside the cave entrance; Bakura was absent from the herd. Seeing the golden deer missing, Bree felt a tingle of worry. Anxiety wore at her when she thought of the golden doe and Faelorn fighting against the horrors that stalked the forest at night. She finished eating and went straight back to studying and sketching until she finally fell into an uneasy sleep under candlelight.

  Bree dreamt of Faelorn fighting countless witches. They tormented him, tearing his flesh, mocking him. Faelorn was a massive animal, a cross between a bear and a wolf. His eyes where orange. He roared, crashing through the forest. Creatures of the dark clawed at him from the shadows. They tore gashes into his sides. He screamed, blood pouring from his wounds. Bree cried out, "Don't hurt him." Faelorn ran into the dark, disappearing from view. She followed him into the forest. The woods smelled of rot, the trees turned black, ash rained from the sky. She scrambled over the desolate landscape. Wandering into a dead meadow, she heard the air buzzing. She looked around and spotted a limp figure on the ground. Approaching the fallen man, she realized it was her brother.

  He got up his eyes were a milky white, his clothes stained with the blood of her family. Her brother said, "You brought dishonor to us." Bree, terrified, ran from his corpse. Witches giggled, tree reached for her, clawing at her face. Goblins lurked in the shadows, they chanted, "pretty girl, pretty girl…." Bree was sweating fear. She was running in the darkness, dodging through the trees. There was nowhere to run. Bree found herself standing at a grave site in the forest. She was surrounded by the bodies of the dead. The stench of rot made her ill. She stepped over the bodies of goblins, trolls, fairy, and elves. Their bodies piled on a senseless mass of flesh and death. Something rose from the mass grave.

  “Child, come closer." It was a twisted, rotting creature. It looked like a rotting human, but her eyes were yellow and full of hate; her presence was worse than a bereaved. The wraith grinned at her.

  Bree's throat burned like fire. She grabbed her throat, pained. The creature pointed at her and, from her fingertips, sprang a shadow. It rose, so it stood behind the rotting woman. Icy eyes glared at her from the mass of evil. Bree started at the living shadow. He came closer to her, a masked face forming from the inky darkness. The bodies of the dead held Bree, cradling her.

  He muttered, "It will all be over soon, Bree.”

  Bree woke up panicked. She immediately realized that it had been a nightmare. Her throat was burning, she coughed and coughed. Blood came up with saliva. Wiping her face on her arm. She went to the edge of the spring and drank water. The burning dissipated quickly. Happy faun bleats drew her attention. Eli sat at the edge of the spring; he was peering at his reflection. To Bree's surprise, a dark-haired woman in white sat resting her feet in the spring. Based on how Eli ran to the woman's open arms. Bree guessed that this was Moira, or at least what Moira had looked like as a woman. Her eyes were the same deep amber they had been when she was a doe. Bree greeted Eli, and he ran to her. By now, the boy was so familiar with her, he did not hesitate to dance around her and make gentle fawn bleats.

&nb
sp; Moira invited her to sit, and Bree sat.

  The two women sat in silence together. Moira turned to Bree. "I am watching over the herd for the night," Bree nodded. Moira continued speaking,"Thank you for watching Eli for these past weeks." Bree smiled, looking at her hands awkwardly, wishing she could sign to the other herd members. Moira continued, "I can't read or sign the language of the elves. I still like to talk, is that okay?" Bree nodded rigidly, not wanting to be rude. Moira said, "This place is lovely, isn't it? This spring is always my favorite place to stay." Bree slipped her feet into the pool. The freshwater was soothing. She stared at the waterfall; Joltrun had told her that the sacred spring ran to underground caverns deep within the earth. Moira cleared her throat.

  “I'm not one to get involved. I mostly keep to myself. God knows I'm working through the troubles I had in life. Bree, since you have been kind to my son, I thought I should tell you there's something you should know." Bree looked up. Moira cradled her son, who was asleep in her lap. She stroked his delicate head and ears. Moira said, "Elo has been here longer than all of us. She has been here for 500 years. Yet she has not aged a day past 18; she has seen the entire herd rotate out. Friends have left her. They have either traveled to the king's land or turn into a bereaved. She is the most kind among us but also the most troubled. I consider her my dearest friend. She has watched over my son, and now she is watching over you." Moira's amber eyes met Bree's. She said softly,

  “If you could be kind to her, that would be lovely. I know that she has been cold, rude even. Understand that she has lost many friends. That is true to her life as a human as well." Bree stared at Moira, unsure what to make of all this. “My friend has been abandoned much, I just would hope that maybe you could try to understand?" Her words sank into Bree. She watched Eli sleeping in his mother's lap. Moira's eyes were moist, she blinked back tears. She said, "I know troubled children, I can see your pain. It's just I'm afraid of Elo becoming bereaved." Bree started at her reflection, at Eli and his mothers. She could never imagine Elo becoming one of those rotting orange-eyed monsters that lurked in the forest. Bree recalled her dreams, was it really possible? Moira stared at the trickling waterfall, "Promise that you will watch over my friend Elo. I don't want the darkness of her past to prevent her from finding peace." Bree stared uncertainly, wondering why this was coming up now. She sat nervously, wishing she could better communicate with Moira. They sat together in silence until eventually, Bree fell back asleep at the edge the pond bathed in moonlight. Eli snuggled up to her warmth, and Bree did not stir as she cuddled the fawn. Moira transformed back into a doe, moving away from the water to settle by Eli and Bree. She looked at the water, seeing the reflection of the Spirit of the King in the water. She said, "I hope you can drive away the darkness, Lord, for I feel it growing in the forest. Bless our herd, my son and Bree, for I fear the eyes that watch us from the forest." The mother deer kept guard over the spring, not leaving her post until it well past dawn.

  *

  It was morning when Bree woke; she heard the herd's whispers as they stood drinking and bathing from the spring. Bree left them to sit by her bed. She checked on Cael, who was still asleep in his tiny bed; she watched his chest rise and fall. Bree pet his long green ears that flopped over his blanket.

  She could still hear the voices of the deer as they took their morning drink quietly.

  Bree listened to their quiet conversation.

  “I haven't slept this terribly since I was mortal."

  “I felt a chill from the forest, but winter is months away.”

  “Mummy, is it going to be okay?"

  “Bakura has never left this long."

  Bree heard their nervousness and felt it spread to herself. Usually, the herd was peacefully grazing. Elo came to join her, making breakfast quickly; she mashed berries into a pot mixing oats that Joltrun had left for her after Bree's last lessons. She watched Elo cook reflecting on what Moira had told her last night. Watching Elo, Bree wondered who in their right mind would abandon her or, for that matter, why? Bree took a deep breath; maybe she should just forgive Elo's rude behavior.

  Elo glowered, noticing Bree. "If you keep staring, your eyes will fall out."

  Bree signed, " I'm sorry Elo, It was stupid of me to go into the forest."

  Elo's face was unreadable; she snarled. "Well, you should have known better than to break Bakura's rules." Bree signed angrily, " I wasn't going to leave you or the herd; I was just trying to hunt food. I didn't want to wake you." Elo stopped stirring breakfast. Bree saw her face flicker with uncertainty. Elo turned to her. "You weren't going to leave us? You didn't hear the call of the forest? You weren't looking for the witch?" Bree was mortified. "No, never, I hate witches. What do you mean call of the forest? Elo, I was just trying to get breakfast." Elo suddenly was inches from her face. She said,"you mean that you weren't going to leave the herd or me." Bree laughed and signed, "no, I like it here. I'm getting used to the herd, and I like this cave. I really like Faelorn and the faes. This place is paradise compared to my life back home even before I became enslaved."

  Elo embraced her, picking her up. She said, "I thought you were mad at me. I thought I done something. Why else would you do something so dangerous without me." Elo was crying, "Well, what a fool I was, thinking that you would do something so mean. I was sure you were trying to leave us and go back home." Elo shivered tears in her eyes, "I was worried you were looking for the witch." Bree giggled as Elo swung her around. She signed frantically for Elo to put her down. "Calm down, calm down, I'm dizzy." They ate breakfast together. Elo softened almost immediately, chatting up a storm about the herds latest gossip.

  Joltrun arrived for Bree's lesson. He joined them before they were finished eating. Bree lessons were intense, but she was determined to master signing. After reviewing the basics, he asked her to teach him about the plants her grandmother used in her medicines. Bree spent the day sketching all the plants she knew from memory and writing their names. She was glad for the opportunity. She hoped that perhaps preserving all her knowledge would be some use to someone in the future.

  At noon Tharin's phoenix came for her. Bree tensed, worried that Tharin had told Joltrun about her magic. Joltrun pet Feanu's crest, turning to Bree, he said. "Tharin told me that he would be giving you lessons at his library; I expect you back before sunset," Cael miserably whimpered as Bree quickly packed her things. Elo pet his head and said, "oh come now, it's only a few hours, you can help me gather from the forest while shes gone. Then we can make a feast." Cael perked up at the sound of eating as much as he liked. Bree hugged Elo promising to return soon. She gave Cael a peck on the cheek, he turned a strange molted color and hid his face in Elo's curly hair.

  Bree followed the phoenix hurrying into the woods as the bird led her back to Tharin's castle. The trek was uneventful, and soon she was inside of Tharin's realm. Bree walked the cobblestone road to the elf's home. The library doors swung open to her once as she set foot on the premises. Tharin stood waiting on the staircase. He greeted her with a nod, his arms folded inside of his elegant silver robes. Bree presumed that he was the older Tharin. Bree greeted him, he waved her in. He lead her down the winding corridors and into his observatory.

  She was instructed to sit on a plush purple couch, and Tharin sat at his desk. He said, "now, Bree, you told me earlier that you believe that your curse is connected with your nightmares. Please tell me about your latest set of nightmares." Bree explained the horrors she saw. She talked about the icy eyed wolf pursuing her and her nightmare about the fae graveyard. The elf's eyes narrowed when she described the woman and shadowy monster. He said, "It sounds to me that you've been cursed with a disease of your psyche. You not ill physically, the spring healed any aliments you had." Bree stared at Tharin uncertain; he continued signing and speaking. “The next time you have a nightmare, I want you to try and interact in the dream." Bree frowned, signing, "How would I do that?" Tharin continued, "Imagine you have a magical sword, conjure a
dragon from nothing. Fight dreams with your dreams," Bree started at him in disbelief.

  Tharin thoughtfully said."That's the first step, then next. I want to put your mind into a dream-like state. In that dream, we can practice facing what is causing you to have fear." Tharin pulled out thick spectacles from his desk drawers. He looked ridiculous. The glasses made his eyes look enormous, and his ears poked out over the rim of his glasses. His silver antlers only added to that effect. Bree snorted with laughter. Tharin glared at her, "Is something funny?" Bree struggled to hide her smirk. He flipped open a thick manuscript from a pile of books on his desk.“Sages like myself have spent ages studying the bereaved in this forest. Honesty, they are rather fascinating. Bereaved are almost always human, never elfish. It's an ailment of your species." Tharin summoned a glass sphere from the many that hung from the ceiling. The glass shifted and melted, changing into a tablet.

  He showed Bree the tablet and conjured several ink pictures that appeared on the screen. He waved to a chalkboard that rolled to stand next to him. The tablet showed all of his sketches to her as he wrote on the chalkboard. "This is your world in its dimension. This is the forest. He drew a square. Both of these places were created at the same time instantaneously. They call it the Big Bang. Some species believe that it was a creator that put it in motion. Even my people, as intelligent as we are, believe that our Gods created us through music. Whatever it was, it created the fabric of existence. There are layers to this fabric. An in the case of the universe, there are infinite layers upon infinite layers. Your world is here in this dimension, and my world is in this other dimension. Tharin demonstrated drawing circles in chalk divided by a thin line in the center. Both worlds are parallel and exist at the same time. Some worlds reflect each other, thus affecting the people that live in these worlds. What is fascinating about Man is that his magic often has a correlation between creation and destruction. Elves cannot do this; our magic is tied to the elements of our environment. Human magic is so terrible that some elves believe that the creator took away your magic. Even with all their magic gone, Man still creates horrible, terrible things. Which is why most worlds that are populated by Men, Elves avoid." Bree started; she had a headache. It was a lot for a peasant like herself to think about other worlds and dimensions. Bree took notes writing quickly. The elf went on oblivious to her anxiety.