‘You too, and thank you’ I replied, nodding once before making a bee line for the Medicine & Healing shelves.
The number of books that there were on just this one subject (or two, depending on which way you look at it) fascinated me, for there were three whole shelves full of books on medicinal herbs, flowers that had medicinal properties and healing poultices alone…three whole shelves!
I have a great interest in medicine and healing, but none of the books and volumes my gaze passed over seemed to catch my attention- until my eyes fell upon a thick spine at the top far-left hand-side of the second book shelf and, looking around, I spotted a step ladder and brought it over- but, even from the second step from the top (it was only five steps high), I couldn’t quite reach it, and was just stretching my hand to try and get it, when I heard a voice below me.
‘Need a hand?’
It was Evander, standing beside the ladder looking up at me with his hands on his hips.
‘Oh, um…yes, if you wouldn’t mind?’ I relied, making my way back down to the safety of the floor.
‘Of course not, which book is it you want?’ he said with a smile as I moved out the way, so he could go up the ladder.
‘That large thick one at the far left at the top...has an old, antique appearance’ I answered, pointing.
He nodded, reaching up and easily plucking the thick hardback from the shelf with next to no effort, handing it down to me.
‘Rather thick medicine book, isn’t it?’ he asked, descending the ladder, and putting it out of the way so no one would trip, before returning to my side and looking over my shoulder at the old book cover.
‘What does it say? It looks old’ he asked, his warm breath tickling my bare neck and making me shiver, though whether it was from pleasure or discomfort I wasn’t quite sure.
‘It’s a book of old herbal remedies, poultices and healing cordials. They can be useful if you come across an illness that medicine today can’t help’ I said, running my hand delicately over its battered front cover.
‘That’s great, you’ll be able to heal people our doctors can’t, once you’ve read it through a few times. So are you done, or do you want to take a further look around?’
‘Yes, I hope so…and I’d like to look around some more.’
‘Cool,’ he grinned ‘I’ll go and chat with Alpin while you do so. Come and get me when you’re ready to leave.’
I nodded my agreement, and he went over to Alpin who was sat in one of the several large padded armchairs spread about the room, a steaming mug of tea in his hand and a plate of assorted biscuits on the large round coffee table in front him, and the two of them began a conversation.
It wasn’t until three hours later, when I had finally chosen the books I liked aside from the medicine book, and Alpin had charged Evander half the price they would have been, because “your young lady friend is so lovely and passionate about books”, that Evander and I left the mind-boggling emporium, the books I had chosen in a gorgeous patterned tote-bag.
‘Thanks Evander, for yet another gift – or four, to be precise.’
He glanced sideways at me as we made our way through the darkened yet still bustling streets towards the palace, a grin playing on his lips as he replied, ‘you are most welcome – and don’t worry about giving me anything in return.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Of course. think of them as belated birthday presents for the past ten years.’
‘That just makes me feel like I have to do the same thing - and I don’t have any Toralin.’
He chuckled ‘it’s up to you if you want to give me ten years’ worth of belated birthday presents. If you do decide to, you don’t have to buy me things. For instance, you could count that ballet performance you put on as one.’
‘I might think about it…after all, I won’t be going back into the human world any time soon’ I replied, just as the two guards on duty opened the gates onto the palace grounds.
Evander looked as though he was about to say something else, when a man I recognised but couldn’t place a name to, walked out of the palace as the doors opened towards us, and embraced Evander warmly.
‘Evander, it is good to see you again - though how a year has passed since I last saw you I cannot fathom.’
‘Good to see you too, Uncle Aiolos. Do you remember Fallon?’ Evander replied, sweeping his arm out to the side to bring his uncle’s attention over to me.
‘Yes, I do remember! My how you’ve grown Fallon. The last time I saw you, you only reached my waist’ King Aiolos - who I had remembered seconds after hearing Evander speak his name, had taken over the rule of Ledoran less than five years after I was born…I even remember being at his coronation! - answered with a smile.
‘Oraelia and Zachary already told me about your parents and what that - please forgive me - bastard Arekin did to them, as well as the other information Ardan passed onto you, when he finally escaped Arekin’s castle’ he added just as several horses, their riders - most of them elves, though there were a few human soldiers and knights - sweaty and looking in need of a good sleep, cantered into the courtyard, their flanks heaving and sweaty from carrying their riders for a long time.
Once all the knights and soldiers had dismounted, and their mounts had been taken back to the stables by some young stable hands, they gathered in front of us and then a tall, well-built elf wearing a golden helmet emblazoned with the Orfedil insignia- presumably the troupe’s leader- stepped forward.
‘Prince Evander, King Aiolos, we’ve spotted Arekin’s army marching out of the Thrangorn Mountains. From how fast they’re approaching, they will reach the proposed battle site by nine o’clock tomorrow morning at the latest.’
King Aiolos glanced at Evander, at me and the newly arrived troupe, and then smiled wickedly.
‘Well then, we had better start prepping for departure, we don’t have a lot of time.’
The Battle Commences
By half seven the following morning, the combined forces of Orfedil, Ledoran, Rendor and Idenai, and the completely elfin country of Feldar, had arrived at the site Zachary (I spoke to him last night and he, like his wife, told me to drop the formal title from his name - though Evander’s uncle had not said so yet) had told Arekin to meet us at, and could already see the outline of Arekin’s army on the horizon against the rising sun.
They would be here soon, and I would have the chance to put all I had learnt from Evander and Ardan into practice- but I was scared, because although I had inherited my parents’ skills and elf like speed, I had never once gone into combat and face an army more than a thousand strong.
Evander seemed to have noticed my hands, which were shaking at my sides from the fear within me out of the corner of his eye, and reached out to wrap a hand around one of mine, giving it a gentle squeeze without saying a word or glancing at me. With that small squeeze, all the fear suddenly disappeared as if he had chased it away with his touch and the warmth of his hand.
I closed my eyes and smiled, lowering my chin to my chest and thanking him silently for his strength and unspoken encouragement, and then opened my eyes again, raised my head to look head on at the advancing enemy, and thought.
Bring it on.
Just over half an hour later, the two opposing armies, over 14,000 on our side against Arekin’s army of 9,500, were either stood or sat astride a horse staring at each other across the 100-metre between us, no one making a sound. Then, as if someone had hit the play button on a movie, the two armies ran and rode at each other.
Swords clashed.
Spears stabbed.
Blood sprayed and spurted.
Bodies were falling everywhere, both friend and foe - but I was still going; darting between the enemy warriors and soldiers, striking out and felling them if they got too close with my dagger, as I searched for Arekin.
He was the one person- the one elf- on the battlefield I was intent on finding and killing. I wanted him to pay for the pain he had put me
through, making me believe that my parents had been dead for nearly ten years when in fact, they had been illegally banished to The Jekoran Desert by Arekin himself.
And that’s when I saw him advancing on Ardan, who had his back to him, straining against the arms of a large elf trying to plunge a dagger through his breastplate into his heart.
Evander had noticed this too, but even with his elfin speed, he was too far from the other three to be able to get there in time. I was a lot closer, and if I didn’t move now Ardan would be caught unawares from behind and felled by two blades.
Making up my mind in seconds, I set off at a sprint towards Ardan; loosing arrows into the necks, torsos, and stomachs of enemy warriors attempting to kill my comrades in quick succession as I ran.
I had never thought about dying until now, but neither was I afraid…and doing so to save the life of the elf who had reignited the flame of hope within me of seeing my parents again - even though I knew it would hurt those I loved, including the Avadorae prince I had known pretty much my entire life - sounded like a good plan and, with that firmly set in my mind as I got within reach of Ardan, and Arekin slowed, I flung myself between Ardan’s unarmed back and Arekin’s blade as it came swinging out, and down.
Part Three: Evander
Tragedy On The Battlefield
I knew when I saw Arekin from afar, advancing on Ardan, that even with the speed of my ancestor Gardohil I would not be able to make it to him in time, for I was too far away. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye I saw a scene that made me think I was dreaming.
Fallon. Running towards Ardan and felling the enemy soldiers and warriors with her dagger and loosing arrows at them as she ran as fast her human legs would carry her, a look of unwavering determination etched into her beautiful face.
It was now, as I blinked furiously at her, that I realised I wasn’t dreaming, and started running - no, sprinting in the same direction, as Fallon drew closer and closer to Ardan as Arekin started to slow down and put his hand to the hilt of the long sword from the scabbard that hung around his waist.
I was soon within ten metres of Arekin and Ardan, Fallon less than three - but Arekin had already drawn his sword to strike Ardan across the back, and Fallon wouldn’t be able to nock an arrow and loose it in time to stop him, but…she didn’t even try.
She didn’t slow down.
She kept on running until she was less than five feet away from Arekin.
Time seemed to slow down as he swung his sword up and down. Fallon took a big leap and fearlessly threw herself in front of Ardan, taking the blow across her left breast and down across her stomach to her right hip.
‘No!’ I bellowed, putting on a burst of speed as adrenaline pulsed through my veins, skidding on my knees across the muddy, blood stained grass and turning my body slightly as I caught Fallon’s body as she collapsed.
Arekin started to laugh.
‘Well, this is a surprise – and quite convenient too. Now, I have eliminated both generations of the O’Connor family!’
‘You’re wrong I’m afraid, Arekin! Her mother and I didn’t die out in the Jekoran Desert.’
The voice of Fallon’s father - laced with anger, malice, and blood lust - said behind Arekin as his daughter lay dying in my arms.
I heard Arekin’s boots squeak against the damp grass as he turned to face Leon, but I only heard him utter Leon’s name in surprise and start to say something, before the undeniable sound of a sword point contacting and passing through skin, Arekin’s grunt of pain, and the thump of his body falling heavily to the ground, met my ears.
Still I kept my eyes on Fallon, her life ebbing away with each passing second, the entire time.
‘Why Fallon? Why did you save the life of an elf, when one of our kind abducted your parents - not to mention the other human members of the Elandrean Portal Guard, and then lied to you about their fate?’ Ardan asked softly, having fought off and then killed his attacker in a moment of weakness on the latter’s part.
Fallon smiled weakly at him.
‘I couldn’t let you die…after what you did for me,’ she told him, her breathing shallow and laboured ‘you were the one…who told me…my parents were still alive.’
He smiled, but I could see tears in his eyes.
‘Where’s…Finn?’ She asked, her brow furrowing with the effort, and pain, it took for her to speak.
A pair of knees appeared on the grass in front of me, and then I heard Finn’s voice.
‘I’m right here sweetheart.’
She cast her eyes up to him, and another weak smile spread across her face.
‘You’re alive…I’m glad. Finn…there’s something…I want you to do for me.’
‘Sure, what is it?’
‘Look after my parents…Evander, and Ardan…when I’m gone?’
‘Hey, don’t talk like that!’ I blurted out, my heart screaming in pain as I held her in my arms.
‘Everything is going to be all right…you’re-you’re going to be fine’ I told her, tears pricking my eyes and lump forming in my throat.
‘Looks like I’ve…paid you back…for those…books you got me…in full…doesn’t it’ she said, letting out a laugh that cut off within seconds because she was struggling to breathe.
‘Are you possibly trying to be funny right now?’ I asked her, tears now falling down my cheeks.
Ignoring my question, Fallon raised a shaking hand to my cheek and gazed directly into my eyes.
‘I’m glad I got to see you again Evander…glad that I was able to see my parents…one last time…Glad, I was able to spend a little more time…with all of you…I only wish I had more time…to… she said, her brow furrowing once again as she struggled to get the words out, her breathing ragged and uneven.
Letting go of her with one arm, I lifted my hand to my cheek to hold hers.
‘More time to what?’
‘To tell you…that, I…’ she started to say, but the rising and falling was slowing; her eyelids fluttering.
‘That you what, Fallon?’ I asked gently.
‘That I…’
Before she finished her sentence, her eyelids fluttered closed, her chest fell for the final time, and her head fell sideways into the crook of my elbow.
She was gone.
A Blessing From An Avadorae King
Tears clouded my vision as I lay Fallon’s still warm hand on her stomach, before gently pulling her up and closer to me; wrapping my arms around her. Then, I let all the emotion within me flood out.
Dry, wracking sobs escaped my mouth. Tears continuously streamed down my cheeks as I sat on the grass, rocking back and forth, hugging Fallon to my chest.
I silently prayed to the gods, to Iona and Gardohil, asking them to find some way of bringing her back, but somehow, I knew that even with the powers they all possessed, once someone has passed into the afterlife, they cannot be brought back.
‘Evander…Your Highness? The battle is over. The enemy surrendered after seeing their leader fall’ I heard Finn say beside me, felt his hand on my shoulder. Usually, I would laugh at his use of “Your Highness”, and tell him it wasn’t needed, but now I simply nodded my acknowledgement and rose to my feet to look Leon in the eye.
‘I’m so sorry Leon. I was unable to protect your daughter…in a way, I am responsible for her death’ I said after composing myself, acutely aware that my eyes were red and puffy from crying so hard, and expecting him to explode at me. To my surprise, he didn’t.
Instead, Leon was shaking his head.
‘No, son. You are not responsible. Arekin was, and he has paid for it. Fallon made the choice to save Ardan’s life on her own, and so very like her too. When she was younger, whenever she made her mind up about doing something, there was no stopping her….and it seems she carried that part of her into her teen years. I am sure she would have carried it with her into adulthood, too.’
I swallowed and nodded.
Leon gave me a sympathetic smile, and then
went over to Fallon’s mother Kathleen, who was being consoled by Finn and Ardan. He enveloped her in his arms, and held her close to him as she sobbed uncontrollably into his chest at the loss of her only daughter and child.
Leaving them to it, Finn and Ardan made their way over to me as I lifted Fallon’s body into my arms and unfurled my wings.
‘What are you going to do, Evander?’ Finn asked, as I prepared to take flight.
‘I’m…going to bring Fallon back to the palace and ask the maids she was friendly with, to…to clean her up and make her look nice for her funeral. She deserves the funeral of a hero…and an elf’ I replied, not looking at either of them as I spoke, pain tugging at my heart again as I said “funeral”.
‘All right, we’ll let your father and uncle, and Fallon’s parents know. From what I can see, your mother has already returned to the palace’ Ardan said.
I nodded my thanks and then, pushing off the ground and into the air, I headed back to the palace.
A few hours later, I was sat at Fallon’s bedside. I just…gazed at her lying upon the bed sheets in the dress she had told me was her favourite on one of the days leading up to the battle. Gold, with little silver-blue flowers sewn into the fabric of both the top and hem of the lovely gown. If you hadn’t been at the battle, she might have appeared to be asleep with her hands folded over her stomach.
I had been chewing the inside of my cheek for the past twenty minutes, thinking of something to say to her. I knew she wouldn’t be able to hear me or respond to anything I said. I just… wanted to talk to her one last time.
‘I…I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you, Fallon. If I’d been closer when Arekin made to strike Ardan down, then maybe…’ I began, sighing.
‘There were so many things I wanted to talk with you about. The way I feel about you…things I still wanted to do with you, like…going swimming in or taking a boat ride on Arénia Lake, like when we were children. I remembered not long ago, a few days before the battle, but we were so busy with training that I didn’t get the chance to tell you.’
Descendants of Erodis Page 21