Arthur Turner and the Elevator Of Time

The Empty Boat At MoonLight

C h a p t e r E l e v e n ~ The Empty Boat At MoonLight

The Wizard found Diríet lying on the floor with a small drop of blood on her

head.

He had always been worried that one day, she would fall farther than she

ever had and would hurt herself badly. He was thankful though, that had not

yet happened.

Her days, he felt, were shortening every minute, and he didn't want to waste

a moment of it.

The Wizard lifted the Witch on to a small bed (The Wizard created a large

bed for her with his magic, that seated itself awkwardly just outside the

elevator doors ) and he dabbed her head with water, hoping it would revive

her.

It did not.

He was very much unaware of the dark dreams seeping through her mind

now, and what evil thoughts took ahold of her.

The Wizards mind, however, was filled with thoughts of tomorrow. He knew

what troubles would be caused, should the potion back fire on them.

It wasn't the potion though, that might not work, it was what would come of

a world with no magic.

With this, he fell asleep, and the two slept there for many hours.

The next morning, the Wizard woke, and checked again hoping that Diríet

had woken as well.

She had not.

So after much thought, he left her there, with a potion he poured onto the

ground, to protect her if anyone should try and hurt her. And with that, he left

the building and entered the elevator, expecting Arthur to be there already.

Even though he had forgotten that he had not told Arthur when to come,

which was a big mistake.

Arthur, meanwhile, was seated on a bench beside where he and Marion had

walked the day before.

He knew Marion would not arrive there for nearly two hours,(it was 5:26

AM) but he wanted to be sure she could count on him always being there for

her and that he would never be late.

Marion was not asleep. She was sitting in her small bed, staring at the

ceiling, watching the hours tick by, until she could see Arthur again.

It would have been better, perhaps, if they hadn't of slept at all, and spent the

hours they had till then together the night before, walking until the sun came

up.

But neither The Wizard, Arthur, or Marion knew this.

Arthur, was occupying his time, by writing his third poem that day. He was

deeply into it, and didn't seem to care that it was incredibly cold that day, nor

that the wind was painfully strong, neither that it was pitch black outside and

he needed to bring a few flashlights to see.

But somehow, he was able to write two more poems, throwing away one, and

starting on the third all over again, because it just wasn't good enough.

As time wore on, the sun gradually showed itself on the horizon, and he was

able to turn off his flashlights.

It was then, that the Wizard, who had been waiting a while hour for Arthur,

realized he wasn't coming at all, and so he used the elevator to sneak through

the bank.

Had not he had magic, much would have been ruined that day. But since he

did, he was able to find Arthur just a mile away.

"Arthur?" He said, calmly, as he walked up behind him.

Arthur, when he heard his voice, immediately shoved his pen into his pocket,

and shut the note book and hid it under his jacket.

"Arthur?" The Wizard repeated.

Arthur was scared now, if there was something he had done wrong, or

something he’d forgotten.

"Yes? What ....what..what are you doing here…where's...where's the...the

Witch."

"She's fine. Why aren't you in the elevator? I told you to come back today."

"What? Oh...well...uhm..yeah......you said to come back....I was going to

come back in a couple hours... right?"

"No. What are you doing?"

"Oh... nothing.... I just....."

"Were you waiting for Marion?"

Arthur froze.

"No."

Arthur hadn't noticed he had just lied, terribly.

"I mean yes."

"Oh, I thought so."

The Wizard sat down next to Arthur. Arthur got the feeling the Wizard was

about to begin a long conversation with him, which Arthur was not ready to

have, still anxious for Marion to arrive, hoping that perhaps she would get

there early.

"I'm sorry Arthur. We have to go now. And..I mean...we need to go now."

Arthur, had it not been for the Wizards kind attitude, would have gotten quite

angry inside, even though he knew the Wizard was right.

So instead of being angry, he only felt like crying right there being in the

strange mood he was.

"O...oh..okay."

Arthur jumped up quickly, knowing that if he stayed there any longer, he

would never leave.

"Why? Do we have to go now?" Arthur asked, attempting just one more time

at coaxing the Wizard to let him stay.

"Yes. I am so sorry Arthur. If we don't do it now, so many more people will

die. Marion will die, if we don't go now. The Magicians will be attacking

here soon, right next to where she lives."

Arthur felt a strange pulse of anger rise within him.

"What?" He nearly shouted.

"No, I am going to get her, if we take to long I AM NOT GOING TO RISK

HER LIFE." He said.

The Wizard perhaps, would have stopped him, or, perhaps he wouldn't have,

and they would have been too late.

However, much to Arthur's happiness, Marion walked up the hill.

Arthur nearly dropped down.

"Arthur." Marion said.

"Why are you here early?" Arthur asked, timidly.

Marion didn't know what to say. She hadn't been able to wait, and so she had

decided to go there, and wait for him. But of course, she couldn't say that to

his face.

"I.....I must have lost track of time." Marion said, laughing nervously.

Marion, just then, and for the first time, noticed that the Wizard was there,

previously being completely oblivious to his existence.

"Oh! Hi, I'm sorry, were you two talking? I didn't mean to interrupt."

"No! No...no...no you weren't." Arthur said.

Arthur could not get out of his mind, what the Wizard had said. Marion will

die. Marion will die. Marion will die.

"Marion, please come with us. There are some Magicians who will kill a lot

of people here today, we are trying to stop that, please come Marion please.

You could die if you don't."

"Okay, of course."

"And I'm sorry we couldn't go on the walk, I didn't know I was needed this

early."

"It's fine Arthur, if what you say is true, that matters more than a walk. "

Just a little while later, the Wizard, Arthur and Marion, made their way to the

top of the tall building of TIME.

Arthur and Marion had said nothing to each other the whole time, wishing

this didn't have to happen, and that they could just enjoy a peaceful morning

together.

At the top, they found themselves on very long floor. It spread for miles, with

no roof, no walls, except for short, stone pillars cut short like a castle’s watch

tower.

From there, they could see much of the island. Marion in particular, having

never seen it until now, was just as amazed as Arthur had been.

"Here we are." The Wizard said.

"Be careful your thoughts, and where you step, this watching front is more

than it seems. "

"What does that mean?" Arthur asked.

"It means, don't think any thoughts of getting down, or grabbing anything, or

anything of the sort. If you do, you will immediately be disposed of in the

same manner."

"Oh."

The Wizard stopped, in the very center of The Watching Front, where a giant

bowl lay. It was about the size of two fully sized men, long ways and short

ways, lifted up by a tall, stone pillar, that looked very old, and incredibly

strong.

As they walked up to it, they looked inside. (which took some effort due to

its tallness)

There, nearly to the very top, it contained water. The most beautiful water.

And though they did not know it, it was the same nearly as the river seen by

Meliaen and Kaened, so many years ago.

"It's beautiful." Marion said.

"Yes. Don't touch it though. If you do, you will have Magic. And don't ask

what's bad about that, but there are a lot of problems coming from that. And

you would have to live here with all your descendants for forever, and never

return to New York."

Before Marion or Arthur had time to respond, the Wizard began working the

spell.

With his hand, he waved it over the water. When he turned his hand around

in circles, the water began to move wherever his hand led, mixing it.

The Wizard stopped a moment after.

Then, he took from his pocket, a small glass container, with wooden

engravings on the bottom.

He dipped it into the bowl of Magical water, and when it was full, took it out

and sealed it.

"Alright then, let's go now." He said.

The Wizard led Arthur and Marion back down by a long, winding stair case

that Arthur had somehow never noticed, this time, skipping the entrance, and

going all the way down to the ground.

Marion and Arthur knew better than to continue to ask questions, so they

kept quiet all the while. As they walked a small distance, they couldn't help

but feel, that whatever the Wizard was doing, he was trying to keep from

everyone else, as if it was a crime. But then again, what did they know?

The Wizard reached into his small bag, and pulled from it a large, black cape.

Arthur recognized it as the Witches, making him even more nervous about

why The Wizard would steal it.

In a moment, the Wizard whipped it around himself, just as the Witch had

done, and there from the cape, a large crow appeared, and landed slowly onto

the ground.

Arthur was glad for the moment, as he had been worried, that Marion hadn't

been nocked down as he had before.

"Climb on." The Wizard said.

Arthur couldn't help wishing they could have used some other form of

transportation, getting on the crow was not the easiest to Arthur.

Marion although, had not the slightest trouble. The Wizard and Arthur, both

tried nearly three times, and failed until on the fourth, they were able to

mount with no more trouble, even though they both felt slightly

uncomfortable.

Marion, was enjoying it quite a lot, especially when the crow took off and

she could see the island even clearer than she had on the tower.

Arthur was so happy, to see Marion smiling.

He could sit behind her (he chose to do this because he feared she might fall

off), and watch her face, see her happy, and be in her company for a little

while.

He now was grateful that they hadn't gone on their walk that day, this was

much more extensive as it might not have been before, and most importantly,

Marion was safe.

The ride was longer than Arthur or Marion had expected. Much longer. They

spent nearly the whole day riding. There was not much to look at, as they

continued on. At first, there was a wonderful splendor of lands they could see

over the horizon. However, they were quickly away from land on the rest of

their journey, and soon only the ocean was seen. It was truly the most

beautiful ocean they had ever laid eyes on. It somehow was just as magical

as everything Arthur had experienced on the island.

Marion was quick to fall asleep, after four hours in the air. Arthur, on the

other hand, would not let himself shut one eye, just in case something might

happen that could harm Marion. Nothing did, of course.

The Wizard said nothing the entire time. And though the crow required no

driver, the Wizard still kept watch as if there was something he was trying to

protect them from.

Nine hours later, the sun was beginning to disappear, and twilight was near.

Arthur could hardly bear staying awake any longer, but by looking again at

Marion, he remembered it would be wrong, and he would never forgive

himself, if he slept a wink.

They were not far now, from their destination. Arthur was soon able to make

out where they were headed.

He could now see, a tall cliff, shortened on every side, rising up like a tree,

with uneven edges.

Water came flowing down like a waterfall, and came into the sea gently.

On the top, was a humongous tree, that seemed to be too tall for anything

normal he had seen. It was shining with white light, and grew into a

lighthouse with branches casting down stars from every stem, sprinkling the

ground and the air with beautiful lights.

What was even more amazing was that the moon could be made out from

behind the clouds.

"Marion." Arthur gently nudged, or touched rather, Marion on the shoulder.

She woke up quickly.

"I think we're here. It's beautiful, look."

Marion lifted her head from where it lay on the crow’s back. Her jaw

dropped halfway when she saw the lighthouse.

"It's incredible." She said.

The crow’s flight quickened at this point. They were there in no time, and the

crow landed onto the ground, finally after so many hours.

They all, one by one, dismounted.

"Wait, Arthur." The Wizard said.

"Yes?" He replied.

"Take this." He said, handing him a small bottle, just like the one he had

poured the water into.

"This is Traveling Wine. You know how to use it. I want you and Marion to

take the small boat that is docked on the other side of this island, and you

and Marion, you I'm sure, row to the first sight of land you see. When you

reach it, send the boat back. Then pour the Wine onto the ground. Don't do

anything until you are told."

"Okay....what....what are you going to do?"

The Wizard hesitated.

"I'm going to Spell."

Arthur nodded.

The Wizard walked up to the lighthouse, so that Arthur could no longer see

him.

Arthur and Marion, walked the short distance to the very edge of the cliff, on

the other side.

There they found, a small boat, with two rows inside, tied by a thin rope to a

rock.

Arthur's first troubled thought, was how on earth they were to get down.

Before Arthur could say that, he saw a rope hanging down on which he and

Marion could climb down.

Arthur did not like the idea of Marion "climbing down a dangerous rope"

"Why don't I go first, in case you fall?" Arthur said.

"No, that's fine. I don't mind going first."

This time, Marion was determined to go first.

So she immediately, before Arthur even had time to think, began climbing

down.

Arthur could do nothing about it, so he too followed, looking below often to

make sure Marion was okay.

At the bottom, Marion and Arthur climbed into the boat. Arthur untied the

rope and took the oars. Marion would have done it herself, but this time

Arthur wouldn't let Marion do the work.

The land nearest to them, was quite close.

It only took Arthur a few strokes and they were there.

After Arthur pushed the boat towards the lighthouse, hoping it would return,

he and Marion made their way to the small patch of land.

Arthur, did next exactly what the Wizard had said, and poured a line of

Traveling Wine onto the ground. However, without thinking, he poured it

onto the far edge of the cliff.

The Witch appeared there in a quick second with her usual black dress.

Before she could say anything though, she tumbled backwards and fell into

the sea.

Arthur and Marion rushed to the edge, looking down hopefully to see if she

was okay. The Witch had fallen a great height, but since she landed in the

water, she was just fine.

Night fell quickly.

The Wizard had waited by the lighthouse for nearly and hour. Now it was

time.

The moon appeared full behind the clouds, and now it shown through the

lighthouse, casting a long string of light onto the sea.

The Wizard, after seeing this, got up from where he sat.

The Wizard was slightly annoyed when he realized he would have to row the

boat all around the island, because Arthur had not sent it the right direction.

Dirïnab rowed the boat out into the sea, stopping a good distance from the

front of the lighthouse, and where it stood.

He then brought the oars into the boat and rested them against the edge.

From his pocket he drew the bottle with water in it, and another one just like

it, although it was filled with a dark substance.

He took a deep breath, knowing what he was about to do.

The Wizard leaned over, and dropped everything inside the first bottle into

the reflection of light from the moon, not hearing the Witch yelling at him

from afar, not to do it.

The waters blended together, but instead of spreading as normal waters

would have, the moonlight absorbed the shining water.

It was at that moment, the whole world changed forever.

Everywhere on earth, in every hidden corner, every human, every creature

alive, felt the magic within them leave. A very special part inside left. Some

did not notice for a while, others realized it immediately and, when knowing

what had happened, began weeping. All over the world, peoples’ lives were

changed forever.

Most of all, the Magicians with madness inside of them, no longer had the

power to do as they planned. Never again, would a Magician walk the earth.

The world was saved, but it was also truly ruined.

The Witch, fainted onto the ground, by losing so much of herself in that

moment.

And the Wizard, he wasn't finished.

The bottle with darkness inside, he took out.

He took a small sip, and then drank the whole thing.

His heart felt cold, his eyes were on fire with hatred, and suddenly, he was no

longer himself.

The last thing, the Wizard ever did on this Earth, was create a small drop of

water, into the empty bottle. And then, he poured it into the moonlight one

last time.

"It's done." The Witch sad, sadly, as if whatever it was, was out of her

control, and she had failed to stop something bad from happening.

"What's done?" Marion asked feeling sorry for the Witch.

"Magic is no more."

"What?" Marion said, completely oblivious to the fact that that was what

they were trying to do all the time.

"The Potion. Every time a Magician is born, we take from them a little

magic, in the form of water, as was what it was when it began. Every

Magician’s power was in that bowl, so that if ever the magic should be taken

from people, it could be done.

The moon lighthouse, if a single drop of the Potion was dropped in its

pathway, it would take it back up to the stars, from where it began. There is

no more magic in anyone."

Marion and Arthur said nothing to this. They knew this affected so many

people, and the Witch especially, so there was nothing for them to say.

The Witch, Arthur and Marion, mounted the crow again, this time with

Arthur at the front, because of the Witch's peculiar health.

The crow flew quietly over the island. But before flying towards the tower,

Arthur and Marion looked back. They could finally see why the Witch was

saddened.

Below them, in the water, was the boat they had last seen Dirïnab in.

It lay in the sea, empty, and there it floated for the rest of time.