Elderwood's call for help
1189 Words
"Wake up! Wake up!" Flynn was the first one awake...
"What is this fool doing?" Avari sighed sleepily
"Callum! Daru!" Flynn was visibly excited.
"Aeliana! Look" he pointed out into a clearing.
The party looked out at the commotion..
"What is that?" Aeliana gasped
They were small, but fat things, pointed heads and multiple rows of jagged teeth.
Their heads were pointed, and painted different colors...
"I caught them trying to steal our food" Flynn exclaimed.. "The big one bit me!"
Aeliana laughed aloud
"All help us..." Catherine came forward, "gnomes..." She was clearly annoyed
"Kherad zti talo!"
The gnomes stopped in their tracks.
"Who leads you?" She questioned them "Come here now." She commanded.
They came in single file, like spurned children.
An exceptionally large gnome came forward, "Daywalker, forgive us we did not know you were in these woods. And would never steal from the large folk, but these are desperate times, my lady." He looked around at the party, "what a strange party you have here... A Riian, a Wood elf, a Dwellyn noble, and..." He sniffed at Aeliana and Flynn, "What are these two?? They smell of old magic... and that one tastes funny. I-"
"Nevermind that!" Catherine snapped, "What has occurred that has driven you to stealing?"
The gnome brushed his hair back, "Forgiveness friends.. we were just hungry I am Grz of the house of Gzt." Grz bowed, Catherine nodded for him to continue, "out homes were destroyed by the orc hoarde marching North, under the banner of the soul reaper." He paused, "trolls from Truul have laid siege to Woodhearth" Callum swore in elvish, "Stonehorn is beset by the Phrygh.. while the Elyon and Cayn battle goblins and.." he stopped his eyes filled with fear.
"Go on.. there's nothing to fear here."
Catherine reassured Grz
"The Saurians have returned."
The party stood silent at this last revelation
Catherine even seemed unsettled.
Callum drew his sword, and spoke in elvish "Obl Vyn! Ygod'in' brod iwi inmai gesto"
The forest stirred, a rumbling hum arose all around.
Aeliana was now excited "Vyn!!"
Many of the trees stood, and headed east.
From the west, a battalion of centaurs charged toward Woodhearth.
Niads and dryads gathered round
Minotaurs came forth and bowed before Callum.
"To Stonehorn!"
Catherine instructed the gnomes to gather in force, and prepare for orcs, they undoubtedly have caught the scent of their party.
"Aeliana!" Catherine beckoned her to come close, "Use your memories.. Malakar is their leader... But Elysia is the voice of reason within the Phrygh."
Catherine smiled,
"We go to battle this day, failure is not an option! If we're lucky, we'll save more than one peoples today"
Daru threw a gold bolt in the air, a raven came down to his side.
"Go to Stonehorn, tell my brothers we are coming. And to sound the horn at mid-day."
The raven bowed, and flew toward the dwarven keep.
Daru took from his pack an ornate axe, embedded with onyx and ivory, and laced with precious stones at the hilt.
He held the axe over his head
"This is Torydd, axe of the Stonehorn. And today... We go home."
Aeliana looked around at her friends..
Catherine was inspecting her golden sword
Avari sat, meditating on the coming battle, her staff in her lap, the stone glowing blue
Callum was making arrows from the wood, and instructing the minotaurs in elvish.
Flynn and Daru were huddled near a horse, talking quietly.
“What do I need to do?” Aeliana thought aloud.
A voice came up Aeliana, strong but distant, in the nearby wood. “Aeliana!” “Who?”
She looked around…
Time had frozen around her.
She drew the black blade
“Put that thing away you silly girl!”
Aeliana knew that voice… very well…
“Grandmother?”
Sella walked out of the wood holding a package…
“By The All…” she gasped.
It was the package Sella gave her back in Veridonia. “I lost that when we had to flee.”
Aella smiled, “I bound it to you, along with this” she took a golden ring, and placed it upon her hand..
“Open this.” Aella said.
Aeliana opened the package, inside was a grand outfit, made of dragon skin leathers, black and green, with gold trim.
“Wear this, and no blade will pierce you.. weapons of men will turn to ash as they touch you.”
Aeliana put the outfit on. It fit like it was made for only her.
She smiled, “Thank you grandmother.”
Aella nodded, and faded away…
Aeliana took a deep breath, and went back to her companions
“Where have you… WOW!” Flynn exclaimed.
Avari gasped
“Is that… dragon hide?” Callum asked
“Beautiful armor” Daru said
Catherine walked around Aeliana, inspecting her, “Aella’s raiment..” she almost laughed “I wondered what became of it. It fits you well”
Aeliana blushed..
Then she realized she was still holding her father's sword.
“Can I inspect that blade, my lady?” Daru inquired.
Aeliana agreed, and handed it to the dwarf.
He held it gently, looked it up and down, “Onyx, and gold… with a phoenix feather inlay etched across it..” He smiled, “My great uncle Ritu made this blade, and gifted it to Garron Morrow.. it looks good as new.”
Daru gave Aeliana the sword.
“It needs a name”
Aeliana held the sword up in front of her, and closed her eyes.
“This…” she smiled, and rose the blade over her head.
All light disappeared, and her eyes glowed like the sun.
“This is Karon's Revenge!
The black sword glowed gold.
Minotaurs and gnomes bowed in reverent respect,
Callum, knelt
Avari, Catherine and Flynn bowed their heads.
Daru knelt, and held Torydd up with both hands
“My axe and people are yours to command, Great Queen Aegyss!”
Aeliana bowed down to meet Daru’s gaze, “Veyn kuul tare kit tuul Tien Valai.”
Aeliana stood up. The morning sun had returned, and all was as it was before.
“Well, our little Aeliana has grown up” Catherine smiled
Flynn was still dumbfounded, “How did you?”
Aeliana laughed
“My friend.. my brother…
There are many more things to be revealed.. but we must help the Dwellyn.. and the Phrygh.”
Callum’s ears twitched at this statement, “You mean, their curse can be removed?” He laughed, “that…” He sat down on a stump, “We've tried for centuries.”
“Tried what?” Avari asked, clearly puzzle.
Catherine smiled
Daru laughed
“What?” Avari, now more demanding than inquisitive.
“The seventh returns.” Aeliana said with a grin, and a golden fire in her eyes.
Avari gasped “The half elves!”
Catherine nodded
“We must go…”
Callum stood
“To Stonehorn”
Daru stepped forward
“Home”
Aeliana then let out a cry that shook the foundations of the earth
“Elysia! We're here…”
- Writer
