and the moonlight is out-played by the beauty of the tree village
Because it is not the moonlight that lights the area around them, but the presence of thousands of trumpet-shaped flowers. They vine around carved stone pillars along a pathway leading to the village, blooms opened wide to the cool night air. Pale blue, orange and yellow, they do not overpower the night but merely brush it aside. And as they grow closer to the village, they begin to climb the great trees there.
The trees themselves reach up into the night sky, branches lost in the distance above. Lush green leaps out from the many-tiered branches, flowers peering out at various spaces. No sign of what one would call a dwelling can be seen, though the murmur of voices still lends to the fact that there is life among those branches.
You seem well pleased with this part of Eire, melar, Willems voice speaks into Tams ear as she continues to stare wide-eyed at the elves masterpiece. Welcome to Lond.
Stop calling me melar, she mutters distractedly, then brings out a hand to trace the almost perfect rectangle outline drawn in the trees. But look
if one has a creative eye, it can be said that the entire stretch of those flowers and trees takes the shape of a many-columned palace drawn with light
.or at least something of that nature. It might compete with the beauty of the Umbra.
Ah, my little poet, perhaps the elves will allow you to take a few of the night flowers with you when you go, hmm? he smirks at her sudden use of pretty words. Or perhaps
you will remain in Eire forever after youve seen the Courts
whose majesty and architecture thrums with the blood of the goddess and holds the key to every drop of magic in the entirety of your person. Much more impressive than a flower, Id say.
She says nothing to that, whether out of dismissal of his suggestion or the guilty thoughts that might run through ones mind after such a statement, it is hard to tell. Her steps take her close to one of the pillars along the still glowing path, and she reaches up her hand to brush the edge of a night flowers yellow petal. A small gasp comes from behind her, but it is too late. The entire network of lights blinks out, leaving them with only moonlight to follow. Silence follows. Then a rough hand on her shoulder pulls her back and to the side, as the female elf reaches over to touch one of the darkened flowers. The flowers slowly rise back to their full glow.
The elf woman merely gives Tam a hard stare.
I didnt- she begins and is cut off by the abrupt turning away of the girl, auburn braid swinging against her back. I dont think she likes me.
This to Willem who has stepped up beside her to give his amused little smile.
Fear leads to hate, they say
youll find more contemptuous expressions of that hate within the Courts, dove, than in this little settlement.
Would you stop with the pet names! she grumbles at him and furrows her brow. And why should they fear me? Have I done anything to merit their fear? Honestly, Willem, I have no idea why I let you drag me into this. For all the reasons you give for me to be here, I find ten for why I shouldnt. So why should I put Fei, Matthias and Damien through all of this, just for the sake of me learning more about myself?
It is not what youve done that scares them, it is what you could do, he speaks quietly, taking her carefully by her upper arm and guiding her along the path. There is a prophecy
By the Umbras, she breathes out, rolling her eyes.
There is a prophecy that speaks of a day when Eire shall fall, cast in shadow and tainted blood. The elements will rise against their scions, the blood will flow freely and the end of an age will come with the soft creep of a darkness-tainted flower, whose thorn will gouge the life from all who cross it, he recites like he has heard it a million times. Most believe that
Where are the other two in your party? the elf woman asks Fei suddenly.
Tamrissa blinks and looks back at the cave entrance behind them. No one else is pulled from below.
Mahkah will kill them! the elf called Narion Bloodroot announces rather sympathetically, head shaking.
Come, brother, let us not end their lives before we know they are even in danger, another pats the young elfs shoulder and then points to four of the others. Lets go.
He bows to Willem as the others leap back into the entrance to race again into the dangerous forest.
My lord sidhe, please continue with Elise into Lond. Your presence is known Im sure, he glances at Tam. And we will return your friends to you as soon as we have found them.
Wait! I should go, Tamrissa moves to join them, pulling away from Willems touch.
Nay, half-sidhe, you will be no help in this matter. Go with the sidhe lord, the elf stops her and points back to the city.
She pauses, a frown of doubt on her face. Then the elf follows his companions and leaves her to join Willem and Fei again.
They are honorable, Tamrissa. Do not fear, Willem sighs and gestures for their, rather less-than-eager, elf hostess to continue her guidance into the city...
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The rescue party of elves find themselves back in the goblin-infested forest. Mahkah's thunderous footsteps and Hurg's obnoxious bellowing have moved off into the distance. Yet, some of the goblins' loud squeals and snarls still remain behind on the path. The small group makes for the spot where the hunters were last seen, spreading out in hopes to intercept them before they are lost or killed...
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As they near the tall, illuminated trees, it is easier to see the makings of the actual village inside
A great staircase of twisting grape branches begins immediately inside the giant, open doorway at the end of the path. Its stairs have no hand rails to safeguard against a fall and have some spell over them to make the step edges harder to see, easier to misjudge distance. If one would plummet from them, there is quite a surprise below
Jagged fissures zigzag the ground beneath the stairs, the ground in between those crevices unstable and thin. And in those treacherous cracks lies an eternal blackness.
There lies one pathway into the Endless, Willem remarks as they grow closer. The elves built their village over it long ago, to guard against what might find its way up from the deep. They hold a spell over it to keep those dark things from coming out, but do not hold any sway over what happens to tumble in. Wait for Elises signal before venturing up the stairs.
At the doorway there sits two statues, three times the size of a man, to either side of the path, both carved to resemble wolves and very realistically. They sit on their haunches, eyes stonily staring at each other.
Elise PineHaven stops before crossing their paths and offers a hand to both of the unmoving pieces of art.
Mingan, Tala.
The wolf on the right turns its head smoothly and casts its gray gaze down to the party. The other raises its hackles and lifts its lips to bare sharp teeth, its head swinging down to confront Fei threatening, but not to attack him yet.
You bring an enemy here, forest daughter, the right wolf growls in a feral male voice using elf language, Willem translating his words to Fei and Tam.
You are correct, Mingan, I do, but I also bring a forest friend. A sidhe lord.
We know who he is and he may pass, but the vampire may not and neither may the female he has tainted, Mingan evenly warns.
Please. Marlwa, Eldest Mother, expects them
and they need to pass through to reach the stones by dawn.
Why should we let the Bloody One and his food into a sanctuary that was created to protect again he and others like him? the other wolf now speaks, snarls interrupting her deep female voice often. What would stop him taking lives again?
My lady, he does not know his history here, Willem interjects, shaking his head at Tamrissa as she opens her mouth to object. He does not remember and has changed.
He may not remember, but he has not changed. I smell blood
one such as he cannot live without blood.
Willem looks at Fei sideways as he speaks to the large wolf.
He has promised not to take blood from any of your children, my lady, and rightly has chosen to learn his past so he may repent of it. And his hunger shall only be spent on those who he is permitted. Will that suffice, my lady? Or shall you ask something more of him?
The shewolf lifts her head and stares down at Fei doubtfully.
Does he truly agree with all you have said or have you made it up to save time? And, if he does agree, what token can he give to signify his honorable intentions?
Tamrissa looks at Willem with a raised brow and then helplessly looks straight ahead into the elf villlage, waiting for a reply from Fei...