ELO

by E. A. Cross

  Bree closed her tired, burning eyes while she hacked into her leg of venison. She worked tirelessly, her hands trembling with fatigue. The nightmares were growing worse; she dreamt of the masked creature every night. In every dream, he mocked her calling her names. He stalked her through the forest. Other nightmares revolved around witches chasing Faelorn and Elo, slaughtering them, Bree drowned in her friends' blood. Other times the dreams were of her family. They would reflect a memory fishing with her brother or sitting by the fire with her grandmother. The monster would appear, and he would kill both of them. Always giggling madly in a sing-song voice.

  Bree dreaded sleeping. She longed to have a night with Faelorn at least to rest safely. It had been the only relief from her nightmares. She would stay up all hours of the night, trying not to dream. She told Tharin about her dreams, and he recorded them. Then to Bree dread, he would hand her a draught of a sleeping solution, and they would spend hours trying to get Bree to fight her horrors. It never worked; Bree had double the nightmares, at home and during her sessions with Tharin. He took blood and hair samples, lectured her on human magic, and spent more time practicing on miasma-infected seedlings. Bree found herself failing more often than not. Yavi reassured her it was self-confidence related. Mostly sessions with Tharin, Bree was glad to leave. She only found peace with Faelorn. Every time she had a lesson, he would wait for her, shoo Feanu back home, and talk in the forest. Sometimes kissing, sharing small meals, but mostly Faelorn taught her about his world. Bree shared hints of hers. She told him about the good times with her brother. Bree told him about her nightmares, he told her his secrets. He struggled to remember his mother's face or the world he was from. Faelorn missed spending time playing with Joltrun. He told her stories from his childhood. Bree had a hard time picturing Joltrun as lord of the forest. The man Faelorn described was a hulking beast who could turn into a massive buffalo. Faelorn signed wordlessly, "We use to stay up, and he would teach me to play chess."

  Bree signed, "Will you teach me..?" Faelorn agreed, and the next time she had a lesson. He brought a black and white slab of marble. Cael had even come along for the ride. It seemed that the woodling had finally forgiven Faelorn for biting Bree. The little fae attempted to learn the rules of the game. Bree grew bored with the game itself but had fun playing with the pieces instead. She would make the soldiers fight and kill each other in the most dramatic and silly ways. Faelorn found this amusing and would stare at her antics as she convinced Cael; to play a game of chess. This lead into a tantrum where the woodling turned green and stormed away. Cael lost a game that he was sure was won by throwing the pawns at Bree's face at every turn. Bree had a fit of giggles when Faelorn told her that woodling's threw their brethren at their enemy's faces to throw the enemy off guard.

  Bree spent her afternoons with Faelorn at every turn. Though they were from different times, places and worlds. Bree felt close to Faelorn, and with the closeness. She dreaded him leaving at night. He never spoke of his work, not even when she asked. Bree knew from Elo that Faelorn spent his nights hunting creatures of the darkness. In some cases, as with the coven of witches- Faelorn was being tracked. Sometimes she noticed gashes and bite marks on his torso. Even in his beast form, she noticed that his fur was patchy, and he had claw marks embedded in his hide. Bree made salves from herbs she gathered and got in the habit of caring a bit of ointment on her to rub into his wounds.

  Faelorn's slew of injuries made her more determined to use her powers. She would find a way to cure the miasma, which was spreading.

  In the dark of night, she had once overheard Bakura and Joltrun discussing the miasma. It would only be a matter of time before the herd would have to be moved, and fae would have to risk leaving the forest for other worlds.

  One afternoon, Bree and Faelorn were sharing a meal that she told him what she had overheard. Bree had just returned from a lesson with Tharin. They had agreed to meet up with Elo and Cael when it was Faelorn's time to return to his patrol. Bree nibbled on a crust of bread then signed "Faelorn...what will happen if the miasma starts infecting everything?" To her surprise, Faelorn's face fell, his voice was harsh. "That won't happen, Bree. I won't let the forest fall; I am the lord of the forest. I will defend it with my life." Bree touched his hand, then signed. "What about us? Our lives. Would you leave me and give your life to the forest?" Faelorn waved her concern away. "The forest will stay the same, I promise." Bree argued, signing, "I can already see it changing." Faelorn didn't meet her eyes; he looked bitterly into the wood. Bree signed. "Faelorn, maybe you should talk to Bakura and Joltrun. They are worried about you...I overheard just the other night…" Faelorn interrupted roughly, "Bree, I have it handled. I keep the forest safe. I am strong, I will defeat the witches. They are spreading the miasma." Bree felt furious; her face flushed. She signed angrily, stomping.

  "I'm not stupid, I've seen your wounds, Faelorn. Every day you come back with more. You are going to die, and I don't want to watch this." Bree stormed away, and she wandered back to the spring. Faelorn followed her, giving her distance. She did not give him her usual kiss but instead ran to the spring as soon as it was in view. Cael greeted her, running up to her and climbing on her shoulder. Elo looked cross but said nothing when she saw Bree teary eyes. Bree threw herself on her fur pallet and buried herself miserably. She refused to tell Elo what had happened. Instead, Bree did her assigned homework from Joltrun, then went to sleep in her bedroll.

  Early the next morning, she got up and asked Elo to escort her to Tharin's ruins. Elo asked why and Bree signed. "I have to do something about this shit."

  Elo, surprised by her strong language, replied this time signing. She said, "what do you mean?" Elo glared at her. She said, "you've been acting strange, always running off with Faelorn. Ditching Cael and me, I thought we were your friends." Bree signed, "you are..."

  Elo stroked Bree's hair. "I can't help you if I don't know what happened. Joltrun is busy all the time. The herd has to adjust to Bakura being gone. There are rumors everywhere, Bree." Bree looked away then back at her friend. She sat down in her bed pallet, motioning Elo to sit with her.

  Elo sat and looked at her with her big blue eyes. Bree said, "I think I love Faelorn." Elo was quiet, "is that it?" Bree covered her face, ashamed. "Elo… he's going to get killed out there. Tharin says the forest is sick. That it's spreading and any moment. We're going to see the evil that is just beneath the surface. I'm not really going to Tharin's to improve my sign language. Tharin is trying to find a way to stop the miasma. He doesn't want to tell Joltrun or anyone until he knows he has a cure." Elo looked confused, "what it got to do with you?" Bree signed shamefaced at breaking her promise to Tharin, "I might be able to help; I can't tell you how. Tharin and I are working together, I need to go see him."

  Elo took this all in stride. Determined, she transformed right then and there. The massive white doe tossed her head in irritation. She said, "well, why didn't you say so? It's my forest too. I want things to go back to normal. When the witches weren't everywhere, and the fae were healthy and strong."

  They decided to leave. Elo left Moira in charge and promised to return before Bakura arrived at nightfall. They left Cael with Eli. Bree signed to the woodling gently, "Cael, you need to guard Eli if something happens. That's your job until I return." Cael holding a skewer as a spear, jumped onto the fawns delighted back and stood guard waving to Bree and Elo. Together with Bree on her back, the white doe carried Bree to the elfin ruins.

  Bree dismounted before they entered the barrier. Elo shook with adrenaline and needed to rest. She had galloped the entire trip. Bree felt relieved for telling someone her secret. She turned to the panting doe and signed. "Elo, Tharin's isn't expecting me." Elo sat in the shade of the mighty tree. Bree sat beside her friend. She signed, shaking with nerves. "I guess… I'm scared. This forest is my home now. I don't want to lose it."

  Elo looked at her; her face was motherly and kind. "Bree, I trust you. If what you say is true, then
I need to do my part and help you." Bree frowned. "I thought you didn’t trust Tharin?"

  Elo shrugged; she retorted, "Tharin well… he's something I tell you that."

  Bree held her stomach, which felt slightly sick from how fast Elo had run through the forest. She signed, "Elo… I have magic. I might be able to save the forest." She expected Elo to deny her and laugh. The doe was not surprised. Elo said, "Makes sense, that's why you're different. It explains why your not a spirit like me or the others." Bree signed, "In my dreams, I see a monster-hunting me. He's always there when I try to help Tharin, I see it, and it makes me feel crazy. If I don't defeat my fears. I won't be able to help stop the infection. Elo, I have terrible nightmares. All the time." Elo snorted, "Tell me about it, you sometimes groan in your sleep" Bree was mortified; she covered her face with her hands. Elo said, "That's why I sing to you, calms you down, and you stop right up." Bree was embarrassed red-faced. She signed, "I thought that you only did that twice..." Elo giggled, "No, I do that most nights, usually after your first nightmare." Elo cleared her voice; she transformed into her human self. In the aloud clear voice, she sang.

  "I wish my love that you were here with me. In the forest of lovelorn,

  I walk the steady paths and winding roads, and still, I cannot find you,

  A day and a thousand years, they are one and the same, A night and a thousand moons. Without you, I am not the same.

  I wish that you were a tree and I your leaves. If you were a bird and I your feathers. If I was a doe, you would be my stag. I'd call for you among the dew and flowers. If I was your nightingale, I'd sing the day away pining for you to return.

  I wish that I was your shield to protect you from dangers untold. If you were my sword, a thousand adventures to behold. You would be my right, and I would be your left. We would sing forever embraced in love's true quest. A day and a thousand years, they are one and the same, for every day without you feels alone just the same."

  Bree was flabbergasted; she stared at Elo. Elo stared back red-faced.

  "Well, don't just stare at me, I usually just hum to you." Bree ran her hand over her short hair. She signed, "I didn't know, thank you. Your singing is probably why I get a little sleep." Elo brushed it off. "What are friends for?" Bree signed, "Do you think. I'll join the herd."

  Elo looked at her; her face was thoughtful. "You're better than the herd. All of us died, and that's that. Theres no going back. Bree, I think you should live your life, be happy. I don't know where that is, but I'm sure it will be wonderful." Bree didn't expect Elo to say what she said. She looked away, doubtful. Bree didn't want to leave the forest. Elo turned. "I know you want to join the herd, I know that's what you've told Bakura, but Bree, life is wonderful and horrible. The good that I did have, I wouldn't change it. It's me and the king's journey, and no one can take that from me." Elo sighed. "I guess that's why I've stayed in this realm. I still want to live. I'm not ready to die..." Bree dared to ask, signing, "Have you really been here longer than everyone but Bakura?" Elo looked depressed, "Yes, I've been here long enough to know the fae's names and everyone in the herd. Bakura's always trying to get me to move on; she afraid that I'll become bereaved. But I'm happy despite the dangers, I love this place just like you." Bree wanted to tell Elo about her dreams. She wondered if Elo's village had really murdered her. She couldn't do it, every-time she thought about asking, it felt wrong as if she and seen something she wasn't supposed to.

  Instead, she asked, "Elo, have you ever been in love?" Elo snorted, "Once…." Bree looked at her. Elo said nothing more, just looked quietly into the forest. She turned to Bree and said. "Bree, I have something to tell you about, Tharin. Why I don't trust him. I think that what your doing with him has good intentions. But you should know something." Elo transformed back into a doe. Bree slipped on her pack, reminded of why she and come to the ruins to start with "Tharin almost killed Faelorn..." Brees stomach dropped Faelorn hadn't told her the reason Elo seemed to hate Tharin. Elo said, "Faelorn always defends Tharin's actions. Before you came here two springs ago, Faelorn's almost turned into a bereaved. It happened not far from here; Joltrun couldn't bring himself to kill him. He's very attached, you know. In this realm, Faelorn is his son. Tharin was summoned by Joltrun." Bree felt dread in her stomach; she hadn't told a soul about what happened to Faelorn in the forest on the day the witches attacked. Hearing this made her doubt concealing Faelorn's transformation. Only the fairy queen knew what happened the day Bree had been assaulted by the coven.

  Elo's ears flicked back in agitation. She said, "If I hadn't stopped, Tharin. If I hadn't talked Faelorn down. Faelorn would have had his throat slit by the elf. It took all the talking I had, Bree. Faelorn would be dead. Joltrun would still be the lord of the forest, technically he still is. Until he relinquishes the last of his powers..." Bree signed, "Faelorn's not bereaved." Elo shrugged, "And I pray it never happens. That's why we need to save this forest. I don't trust Tharin, but I've known him long enough; he will always put the fae's needs before his own." Bree signed, "I'll be fine Elo, come with me. Then you can keep me safe." Elo looked at her friend, their eyes met. Elo plead, "the next time you see that monster fight it….please. I'll be there to help you, okay. We're in this together." Bree touched her friend's muzzle then signed, "Okay, let's go to Tharin's together."

  Chapter 25

  Bree huddled against Elo's neck as an icy wind hit her hard. Even wrapped in Tharins pink robe, she was trembling with cold. Elo trudged through the snow, struggling against the wind. Bree pressed her body against Elo's white hide. Her teeth chattered, and she could hardly see in front of her face. Elo battled the blizzard as she approached the doors of the castle. They had not expected the blizzard when they entered the barriers. Elo kicked the door with her forehoof loudly. A frazzled Yavi opened the door. They said, “Bree, your lessons are tomorrow." Elo shoved her way in. Yavi let them through, shutting the door behind them. The nymph said, "Ah, Bree, you brought your friend." Bree signed, "Elo, this is Yavi, Yavi. This is Elo." Elo was amazed, "Wow, a wood nymph, I thought your kind went extinct ages ago." Yavi answered. "Well, little deer, some of us survived, and I imagine the rest are hibernating..." The halls were decorated with brightly colored bells and pine firs. Feanu was perched atop of a tree half asleep.

  The entire castle smelled of pine and something sweet and fragrant. The light of the merrily crackling fireplace lit the stone walls orange, casting a merrily light on the decorated walls. Yavi added wood to the lit fireplace. Elo looked at the smoking wood in the chimney. "Isn't it painful for you to watch trees burn?" Yavi shrugged, "better dead wood than me. I can't survive in the extreme cold unless I hibernate. I need to be awake to stabilize the castle."

  Bree signed, "I know I'm not supposed to be here today. Where is Tharin?" Yavi simply said, "The master is out today." Bree was bewildered, "Where would he be?" Yavi shrugged. "I can't say, another dimension if I were to guess." Bree stared at Yavi, confused. Yavi offered her guests a sweet from a small tray. “Now, Bree, why are you here? Surely you didn't just come for a visit." asked the nymph.

  Bree signed, "I need to practice with the seedling. I think I can do more than before." Yavi climbed above the fireplace mantel. They said, "I suppose I could guide this session, Tharin never left any rules other than. Don't burn down the castle or let stranger's in." Elo shivered, "So we're not allowed in?" Yavi huffed, "your not strangers. I recognize the king's deer when I see one. Bree is always welcome, so I'm not breaking his rules." They hovered up the steps using their vines to climb the barrister.

  They said, "Hurry up, I have a fresh vat of sleep tonic in Tharin's office." Elo transformed as they followed the nymph; They entered Tharin's observatory. Elo was fascinated by the little galaxies swirling in glass balls. She said, "well, I give the elf one thing; his fancy observatory is pretty." Bree and Elo looked at Tharins artifacts as Yavi set up the couch. Bree once more set her eyes on the curtained back room. She had always been curious about it but had
not wanted to violate the elf's privacy.

  Bree sat down, pushing away her curiosity. Yavi snapped their fingers, and several glass balls floated into the room. Offering Bree a seat on the couch, they arranged a hovering display of seedlings around Bree. Yavi instructed, "Keep your seedling in your pocket, Bree, I've been experimenting on these with little success." Yavi brewed tea and set up their notes. Then they set up an extra seat for Elo. Yavi held the sleeping tonic in their roots, they handed Bree the vial of purple liquid. Yavi's face was severe, "You lead Bree, just like always. The seedlings are calling for you." Bree stared at the rotten seedlings in the display before her. The seeds were the offspring of the trees of the forest.

  Bree thought of all the infected animals she had seen. She thought of the faes that were starting to show molted spots of infection. Determined, she thought of the fairy queen and how she owed her life to them. Bree focused and felt the familiar burning in her blood. She remembered her grandmother and her home forest. Determination surged in her mind; she would not let the forest die. Bree relaxed and felt a pulsing in her veins. It was weak at first, but after weeks of practicing, she began to recognize the feeling. It was the forest's pulse, like the same breathing she had heard when the slavers had left her for dead.

  Bree strengthened her feelings. She just needed to believe in the forest, in her friends, and in the King's Spirit that watched over the fae and the lost souls of the wood. Elo muttered, " Bree, you can do it. I believe in you..." Bree trembled sweat appeared on her brow. She could feel the trees' voices, the ones she had heard the first day she awoke. A memory became clear. Her grandmother held a thick bible in her lap. She opened the holy text, and holding Bree's hand, she showed her how to read the ancient book.