I told her with a small laugh, as I recalled the slight mishap we had with Fallon’s quiver at the end of a training session; she’d been having trouble getting it off (she wore it on her back during training so she’d be used to it once the battle came around).
I’d tried to help her out, but in all the tugging of straps to try and get it off her, the quiver flew upwards and all of the arrows had shot up and downward in a sort of arc behind her, impaling a straw dummy used for sword training exercises. I guess it’s one of those things you had to be there, for it to be funny.
‘I’m really going to miss you sweetheart’ I said, tears pooling in my eyes, and a lump forming in my throat once again.
It was then that I sensed someone watching me and glanced over at the window seat; my eyes widening in shock as they took in who it was sitting there.
‘Erodis?’
‘Hello, Evander’ he said, smiling as he rose from his perch and walking towards the bed.
Erodis is the first son of Iona and Gardohil, and I am one of his direct descendants, but I’ve only ever seen him in old family portraits and history books given the fact that he doesn’t live in Elandrea…speaking of which…
‘Erodis, what are you doing in Elandrea, shouldn’t you be in Teralien?’ I asked him as he sat himself down in the chair on the other side of Fallon’s bed.
Instead of answering my question, Erodis gazed upon Fallon’s form and said ‘she’s incredibly pretty, son. What colour were her eyes?’
‘They were amber brown, and more beautiful than the eyes of any female elf I’ve…ever met.’
‘Terribly painful, losing a loved one’ he mused, voice soft.
I frowned at him ‘but your wife, as far I know is safe and well in Teralien, so what could you mean by that?’
‘I have not suffered the loss of a loved one, that is true, as you hadn’t before you lost Fallon on the battle field. When I lived here in Elandrea and was ruling Ledoran, people - elves and humans alike - came to the palace, asking to have loved ones back who had been lost to Hades or Oschala, our own goddess of Death, either by a soldier’s sword or a serious illness, from every country Ledoran was friendly with.’
‘Why?’
‘Because I was born with the gift of being able to give life back to people and animals who have passed away.’
‘You… what? I didn’t think that was possible. Whoa, you must be the only Avadorae in history to be born with that gift.’
‘I was not finished, my son.’
‘You weren’t?’
‘No, I was not. There were, as I said, many who came to ask me to bless their loved ones once more with life, but I could not fulfil that wish for all of them.
You see, only those who were kind and pure of heart before they died, could I bless with life again; if someone with an unkind, evil, greedy, and sullied heart, were to be brought back into the world, they would only bring all the bad they had brought into the afterlife back with them and spread it, and that is never a good thing.
One of my other gifts, is being able to see the purity or evil within someone’s heart, animals too but mostly elves and humans.
Fallon’s heart was one of the purest I have seen and felt in over a hundred years. One of the kindest, most loving, and loyal of personalities too…she is also one of the bravest and most selfless humans I have ever had the privilege to look upon from Teralien; giving her life for an elf, despite what one of his kin had put her through. That is the reason I am here.’
‘Are…are you going to bring her back to me – to everyone whom she loved and loved her in return?’
He nodded, ‘plus more.’
He stood from the chair and leant over Fallon, kissing her on the forehead. Lifting his head he closed his eyes and held his hands, palms down, over her torso. A golden glow emanating from them for a few seconds before it faded, and himself away from the bed.
‘When will she wake up?’ I asked, looking from him to Fallon, and then back again.
‘She will awaken in her own time. It could be in half an hour or two - and before you ask what I meant when I told you I would be doing more, than simply bringing Fallon back to those she loved and was loved by, you will have to wait and see.’
‘How did-?’ I started to ask, turning to him - except, he wasn’t there anymore. Erodis had disappeared in seconds, and I had no idea how he had done it.
Chuckling to myself, I cast my eyes back to Fallon.
‘Well, I guess all there is left to do, but wait for you to wake, Fallon’ I said with a sigh, and settled down in my chair, heart pounding at the prospect of seeing her gorgeous eyes open again.
Alive Again
I must have fallen asleep at some point because the next thing I knew, I was startled awake by a bright blue light lying heavily across my eyelids.
It was Fallon, only she wasn’t lying on the bed anymore. She was floating above the bed facing me, her arms raised, but slightly limp, away from her body, and the blue light that had woken me gradually fading from her form and, once the light had completely faded from her body, Fallon began to float back down onto the bed. Worried that she would be in danger of slipping off , I leapt from my chair and caught her lightly in my arms as she floated down, and then turned around and sat on the edge of the bed.
Seconds, and minutes, passed. Then, just as I was falling asleep for the second time, Fallon’s fingers twitched a little, her eyes moved beneath their lids, and…
‘Mmh…Evander?’ she asked, eyes fluttering a little as she woke up until they were fully open.
‘Hey sweetheart, how are you feeling?’ I asked, smiling.
‘A little achy…and my limbs feel heavy’ she replied, and it was then that I noticed something about her eyes had changed.
They were the same amber-brown, that was for sure, but now there were distinct specs of sparkling wisteria (a purple-blue colour) and violet scattered about the irises, making them look more beautiful than ever. Shaking off my surprise at the sudden change in her eyes I smiled at her, and asked ‘Fallon, do you remember what you were going to say earlier before you…fell asleep? You started to say you wanted to tell me something.’
She furrowed her brow in concentration, trying to remember, but within seconds she shook her head in defeat and said softly, ‘sorry.’
‘That’s okay everyone forgets things when they’ve been out of it for a while’ I said with a smile, stroking her cheek with my thumb ‘is it okay if I tell you something I’ve wanted to tell you for a while now?’
She nodded.
Deep breath Evander, don’t back down now.
‘I’m in love with you, Fallon. I think I have been for some time.’
Fallon’s eyes widened, quivering gently as she turned cherry red.
‘I-I love you too’ she stammered, after she was silent for a few short seconds.
‘Really?’ I asked, smiling as I felt my own cheeks flare with heat.
‘Yes’ she said, a smile of her own spreading across her face.
My smile widening into a grin, I slid my hand around the back of her neck and leant towards her.
Fallon’s lips were soft and warm, and it was as our lips touched, that the spark that had always been there between us was fanned into a flame within my heart.
‘I’ve been wanting to do that for so long, but I’ve never found the right time’ I murmured, once we’d parted, leaning my forehead against hers and stroking her cheek.
Pulling gently back from her after a few moments, I gazed at her, smiling.
‘You’re beautiful, you know…especially your eyes.’
She blushed again, making the flecks of colour in her eyes stand out a little against the amber-brown.
Thinking back to what Erodis had said before, I tucked some of Fallon’s hair behind her ear; pursing my lips upon seeing the transformation her ears had gone through.
‘Evander, is something wrong?’ Fallon asked, concern clouding her face.
I sigh
ed, scrunching my eyebrows together in a frown as I thought about how to tell her what had happened out on the battlefield, and then gently recounted the events that had transpired prior to her waking up.
‘I remember now…putting myself between Ardan and Arekin. After that though, nothing...probably from all the blood-loss’ she recalled after I had finished explaining, getting up and walking over to the full-length mirror fixed to the wall beside the wardrobe.
Leaning forwards and peering into the mirror, Fallon turned her head from side to side; widening her eyes, moving her head back and forth, she turned to me, and asked ‘so… I guess I’m an elf now?’
I frowned ‘it appears so, but I’m not sure because of your eyes…I’ll have to keep an eye on you over the next few days, which won’t be difficult since we’re together most of the time.’
‘Right. That makes sense’ she said, returning to the bed and sitting down beside me. Reaching out to the bedside table, she picked up the book of old herbal remedies and healing cordials she’d picked out, along with at least two other books, when I took her to Alpin’s Amazing Book Emporium.
‘How far into it are you?’
‘I was about half way through, before the day of the battle’ she replied, setting the thick book back on the table. ‘What’s the plan now – I mean, regarding my foster parents?’ she asked, turning back to me.
‘Well, first everyone needs to see you, the funeral plans need to be scrapped, and then there’s the ball to think about…speaking of which, do you know any dances, aside from ballet?’
‘I uh...I think I can do the waltz, but ballet is the only dance I can do confidently.’
I chuckled ‘there’s a full week before the ball, which gives us plenty of time to train you up a little in the art that is ballroom dancing’
‘Hopefully’ she replied, a short burst of laughter escaping her lips.
‘Right then, we had better go downstairs’ I announced, standing up and putting my hands on my hips, turning to her. ‘Can you walk okay on your own, or would you like some assistance? There are quite a few stairs, remember.’
‘I’d appreciate the help, thank you’ she replied with a smile, getting up herself and teetering a little because she stood too quickly.
‘Whoa, there’ I said, reaching out and steadying her before she fell over. I then offered my arm with a little bow of the head, ‘my lady.’
She giggled, taking it, and the two of us headed downstairs.
When we were within a few feet of the room in which I knew the others (aside from Finn and Ardan) were talking and waiting for me I stopped and turned to Fallon, putting a finger to my lips.
Appearing to understand my intent, she nodded and pulled her arm away from mine; leaning against the wall beside the doorway.
I grinned at her and after composing myself, turned into the room where everyone was chatting amongst themselves.
‘Hey, everyone.’
My parents, brothers, Great-Uncle Aiolos, and Fallon’s parents turned their attention to me, my mother giving me a sympathetic smile.
‘Sweetheart, how are you doing?’
‘I’m okay’ I replied, furrowing my brow, and looking pained to make it look convincing. ‘Um, how are the funeral plans going?’
‘They’re underway, do you want to weigh in and do a eulogy?’ Leon asked.
‘Um, no…actually, I was actually thinking we should just scrap the funeral plans, and the funeral itself, altogether.’
They all stared at me, dumbfounded.
‘Are you being serious?! You were in love with the girl, and now you’re telling us you don’t want to give her a funeral?!’ Oisin asked, a furious glint in his eyes that was mirrored by the others.
Chuckling I said, ‘I’m still in love with her’ and then leant back a little, making a signal to Fallon for her to reveal herself.
As she stepped out of the corridor’s shadows and into the light, everyone’s eyes widened in shock, and continued to stare at her as if she were a ghost, as she spoke with her hands clasped behind her.
‘Hello everyone, I’m back.’
‘How...?’ Leon asked, as he and the others stood up upon seeing her, his voice trailing off.
I smiled ‘Iona and Gardohil’s eldest son paid us a visit.’
My mother’s eyes widened.
‘Erodis came down from Teralien?
I nodded, ‘he told me that he was born with the gift of being able to give life back to those who were kind and pure of heart, who have passed away and, that Fallon’s was one of the purest he’d seen and felt in over a century, and then kissed her forehead and did something with his hands, and said she’d awaken in her own time, before disappearing.’
‘No, there aren’t any books on our family’s history, that your mother and I know of’ my father replied, my mother shaking her head in agreement.
‘That’s one amazing gift to have’ Aiolos smiled, before frowning as Leon and Kathleen pulled Fallon into a hug.
‘Fallon, something seems different about you…Leon, Kathleen take a close look at her eyes and ears.’
The two of them glanced at him in surprise, at each other, and then turned their attention back to their daughter. Peering closely at her, both of their eyes widened as they took in the wisteria that had joined the amber-brown of Fallon’s eyes, and even more so when they noticed the elongated tips of her ears.
‘Your ancestor brought Fallon back to us as an elf?’ Kathleen asked, casting her gaze over to me still stood by Fallon’s side.
‘It seems so, from her appearance’ I replied, not voicing my suspicion that Erodis had not given her new life as an elf, but as something closer to those of his own flesh and blood.
Fallon spoke next, looking at everyone in turn, as she did. ‘Evander told me about the victory ball in a week’s time, do you have any dance tutors in the palace? I only know a bit of ballroom dancing’
‘I’m sure Evander will teach you, he’s a lovely dancer’ my dad replied, winking at me discreetly while no one was looking.
Although blushing furiously in response to being volunteered, I nodded and stammered ‘y-yes, I’d love to’ with a stupid grin on my face.
‘Great! I look forward to it’ Fallon said, smiling back at me.
‘Right then, now that Fallon is alive and well again, and she has a dance tutor sorted, I think it’s time for some coffee, tea, or hot chocolate and some of Cian’s lovely chocolate Victoria Sponge cake in the Tea Lounge’ my father announced, standing from his seat on one of the tall backed armchairs in the room, and waiting for our responses. Cian, by the way, is our young cook and baker.
Fallon and I, along with the others, nodded in agreement and either stood, or turned, to leave the room and head towards said lounge.
As I made to leave, I felt a hand close around my wrist.
‘Evander, wait a moment’ Fallon said quietly from beside me, gently gripping my wrist a little harder.
Turning around, I murmured ‘we’ll be with you in a little while’ to my parents as they passed. They nodded and left with the others, leaving myself and Fallon alone.
‘What is it?’ I asked, gently freeing my wrist from her grip and taking both of her hands in mine.
‘I haven’t thanked you for…you know, staying with me until I woke up’ she replied, gazing up at me, her mesmerising eyes portraying love, and honesty all at once.
‘You don’t have to thank me sweetheart…I’m just glad I’ve got you back again’ I replied in a murmur, letting go of one of her hands to cup her cheek.
Smiling shyly up at me, Fallon let go of one of my other hand and wrapped her fingers around the collar of my shirt and tugging me gently towards her as she stretched up to meet me half way.
As our lips touched, I wrapped my arms around Fallon’s waist, pulling her closer to me.
‘Where have Finn and Ardan been since the battle was won?’ Fallon asked, when we parted.
‘Last time I saw them, they were he
ading to the training hall, and I haven’t seen them since.’
She looked down at her feet, and said ‘I should go and find them, and explain what happened after they’ve gotten over the initial shock of seeing me alive and well again.’
I smiled, tucking my finger beneath, and tilting, her chin up ‘as thoughtful as ever’ I said, leaning down, and kissing her forehead.
‘I’ll let our parents, and Aiolos, know you’ll be a little while longer.’
She nodded with a smile of her own, wrapped me in one last hug, and then headed out of the meeting room and down to the training hall.
Part Four: Fallon
A Shock For Two Friends
Walking down to the training hall, footsteps echoing off the walls of the wide corridor, I wondered what Finn and Ardan’s reactions would be when I appeared in front of them, having seen me pass on several hours ago with their own eyes. I couldn’t worry about that though, for as my father has always said “do not dwell on what is in the past. Focus only on the present, and what is still to come” so I brushed all my apprehension and worry to the back of my mind, picked up the pace, and focused on seeing my two friends and their possibly shocked but happy faces again.
Entering the training hall from the West Door, I hid behind the large stone statue of a warrior in a fighting stance, and peeked around him, and saw Finn and Ardan sat on one of the steps in front of the door at the hall’s far end, talking.
‘I can still remember the first time I met her. It was the day her parents and the others arrived at Ledoran’s palace to be sworn into the Elandrean Portal Guard…she was barely a year old, and I babysat for Leon and Kathleen until I was thirteen when I had to go away and complete my Scouts’ training…ad she had just begun to walk too…she was like a baby sister to me,’ said Finn with a chuckle. ‘I still recall her saying- or trying to say- that she would miss me!’ he added, smiling fondly at the memory.
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