Light Borne, page 5
Face to face with the great river Eridanus, she found it to be a wild, rushing river in which so much water flowed that mist hung heavy in the air above it. She could scarcely make out anything except darkness on the opposite shore. Just as the vibrancy of the Ethereal Forest had struck her, so did the intensity of the abyss of the Demain Durak.
The darkness of the forest before her seized her heart. Her thoughts turned toward her family and she wished she was back at home; though she knew that their fates were in her hands. She turned to face the river. Out of the mist, Elan saw a small boat making its way to her. It was not coming across the river; it was traveling through the mist. A small, cloaked figure pushed a wooden pole down beside the boat edging it ever closer. An eerie feeling swept over her and she knew at once not to board with him. He extended what was a shadow of a hand out from underneath his insidious cloak, which looked as if it was fashioned from some sort of hair, motioning for her to get in.
Elan put forth the ring and said to him, “Erros su sen vanok.”(Go back to the darkness.)
The moment she resisted him, he was gone; vanished into the mist. She knew now that she must take the crossing. The crossing was but a bridge made of logs that had been tied together with rope. She wasn’t sure if it would hold her, as it looked positively archaic. Cautious, she was unsure of the condition of it and placed one trembling foot out onto the first log. The bridge did not sway or creak, so she put the other foot in front of her and took a few timid steps out onto the crossing. By the time she was a little more than halfway across, she felt sure that she would make it.
Elan began to hear a crackling, rustling sound; like the sound of static electricity. For a moment, she stopped on the bridge, wondering what it was. All at once, the river came rushing up over the bridge, nearly knocking her off. She held on fast, but felt her grip slipping. The rage of the river was too great and Elan knew that it would be a matter of seconds before she fell to her doom. She could see the ferryman approaching once again…waiting. In desperation, she called out for help; it was to Ehveh she called out.
“Please…you have sent me, do not let me die here!” she cried.
A few seconds later, she was astonished to feel that she was being lifted to safety. Elan did not see anyone, but she was being set upon the shore nonetheless.
“Take comfort, little one. I will not abandon you to the darkness.”
The voice she heard was one of a thousand waterfalls. It swept over her and she was bewildered. Elan felt a wonderful peace fall over her and she rested in it. Who was this voice? Never before had she felt so cared for and so safe. Even in the midst of the evil of this place, she felt safe.
“I am with you…always.” He whispered to her in such a way that even her soul heard the depth of each word. As he spoke, Elan knew something inside her was changing.
“I…know you…” she whispered. She felt as if he were the part of her that she was missing.
She suddenly understood what she was doing and why. She must fulfill her destiny so that others would see. He had seen inside her heart and saw the good and the evil; and yet he showed his love for her. And she would never be the same.
Chapter Seven:
After meeting him, Elan felt empowered. He had kindled a determination and strength in her that she did not realize she possessed. She now felt determined to find what it was she was turned out into Ludan for. Once again, Elan was without direction but soon stumbled upon a trail leading into the depths of the forest. At once she knew that the path would be treacherous. It was a winding, rocky course that led through deep ravines and over many fallen trees. Wild vines and brambles flourished and were thick, forming a tangled web of undergrowth that was almost impassable. The silence of this place was unnerving. There were no bird songs, no crickets chirping. The Demain Durak seemed to be as lifeless as the shadow that hovered above it.
The darkness loomed. The trees were black and leafless, standing as stoic witnesses to the evil that haunted them. No light penetrated from the sun, and it became difficult to find the way. The days and nights faded into one another and Elan no longer knew how long she had been travelling. Cold and wet from the gloomy mist that hung over her, she was faint from hunger. She needed to find drinking water. As she happened upon a small brook, she found the water stagnant and thick. She could not drink there, thirsty as she was.
Elan struggled along the trail and was growing weary. She tried to remind herself that she was not alone here in this dark place. Ehveh would help, somehow. Looking ahead she thought that she could see a small house up among the treetops. She walked on and when she came near it, it became clear that sure enough, it was a tree house! It was situated atop what was quite possibly, the largest tree she had seen yet. Its trunk was easily as wide as a house and there was a door carved out of the middle. She could see light shining through the small windows and the smell of smoke coming from a little chimney at the end of the house filled the air with a welcoming aroma. The roof looked like it was made from the bark of trees and the sides were rough-hewn planks. The glass in the windows was swirled and thick, like old glass sometimes is. It looked inviting and she was so very tired and hungry.
Elan decided to take the chance. After all, she didn’t know when there would be another opportunity for rest and food. She would find out who resided there. Inside the door, was a winding stairway that was dark and narrow. It seemed to spiral off into the tree. On the inside of the tree trunk, small torches hung along the wall and provided a dim light. On the way up, she could make out the sounds of laughter and what she thought was someone telling a tale.
“…and then the ol’ boar took off like a thief in the night! Betcha he won’t be comin’ round these parts no more! Ah, ha, ha!” His laugh was loud and rough. He sounded like a large man and it made her nervous to continue on, though she knew she had no choice.
“Shhh…d’ya hear somethin’?” he asked whomever was with him.
“Nah, ya had too much ale thes evin’…ha,hah!” replied another voice.
Elan continued to climb, each step finding her feet heavier and clumsier, until finally she arrived at the top of the staircase. She stopped under the overhang of a porch that wrapped all the way around the house, knowing that she would need to choose her words carefully. The door and the huge door knocker that hung upon it awaited her. Elan grabbed hold of the ring and knocked. As she did so, the raven which adorned the top part of the knocker, spoke.
“Whosoever knocks, must answer a riddle of the Tree Folk to enter.” He squawked and flapped his rigid metal wings.
“Great.”
“Should you feed me, I will thrive…should I drink, I will die. What am I?”
Elan thought for a moment, and then surprised enthusiasm lifted her whole countenance. “I know it, I know it!”
“Well…?” the raven asked.
“Fire! The answer is fire!”
And the door was opened to her. Inside, standing right in front of her, she found the owners of the voices she had overheard. They were nothing short of shocked to see her open the door and the angry expressions on their faces revealed their annoyance.
“Excuse me,” she began, “but yours is the only home I’ve seen in this forest. Could you please tell me the way to Bothrane?”
The silence was deafening as she awaited their response. They only stared at her, puzzled. The larger one, an elderly looking creature, kept looking at her hair and the smaller one, who seemed a bit less in age, was more than a little interested in the ring.
“What are ye, thar?” they inquired. It did not occur to her that they would have no more of an idea of what she was than she did of them.
“I am a Bearer of Light,” she said, trying to sound intimidating without being arrogant. “I have come to seek the ruins of Bothrane.”
The large one whispered, ”Eh, Rom...think we oughtta kep ‘er?”
“Smells like trouble ta me thar lad, she does.”
“We cud get that thar trinket she wears, that we cud.”
“I am tellin’ ya Ligon, that trinket brings us trouble, it does.”
“And might I ask who you are?” Elan asked.
“We be the watchers of this here tree, missy, I am Romulus and this be Ligon.”
“Well, will ya be stayin’ then, miss?” asked Ligon.
Their interests were not in being hospitable to a stranger. They were tree watchers, guarding the trees of the dryads that surrounded them. Interested only in the ring which she wore, for they knew of the legend, these watchers were old folk and had been living in these trees for ages unknown. They were hardy creatures and never missed an opportunity to collect treasures and trinkets when the chance presented itself.
The watchers were short and stout. Ruddy red hair covered their skin and their crimson beards nearly touched the floor. The pants they wore were such a dark green that it resembled the dirt brown of the forest floor and they had no need for shirts, as the thick fur that blanketed their backs was covering enough. They wore no shoes for they never left the treetops and so their feet were dirty and rough.
“You are welcome to supper with us, lass,” suggested Ligon.
“Oh, yes, lassy. Come and supper with us, you must,” Rom insisted. “We’ve bread an’ er roasted duck by the fire, we do.”
“I am awfully hungry….” Elan knew she couldn’t refuse their offer, but she must be careful.
Just for a little while. And then I’ll be on my way.
“Good, very good then, miss. Rom get them mugs.”
Elan ate with them and drank her fill of the water they offered to her after her fierce refusal of the ale they insisted she must have. She was so very sleepy and yet she knew she could not sleep there. She gracefully thanked them for the supper and pleaded with them to tell her where she could find Bothrane as she was sure that they knew.
The two watchers denied that they knew of any such place and left Elan sitting alone in front of the fire. She got so warm and was so full from the meal that she could barely stay awake. Her eyes grew heavy and she drifted in and out, all the while fighting to stay awake. Her eyes closed and she could just make out Romulus and Ligon whispering in the other room.
“We be gettin’ that thar ring, me lad.”
“We wait till lassy’s asleepin’ an’ then we’ll take it.”
“It’ll be nice on thar fingers, it will.”
“We’ll give har to the dark, laddy…shhhh.”
Hearing this revived Elan, but she feigned sleep until she saw a chance to escape. Soon, their patience was at an end and they could wait no longer. Greed filled their hearts with despicable plans to sacrifice her to the darkness and keep the ring for themselves. In their haste, they rumbled through the tree house in search of a rope or something sufficient to bind her with so that they could sneak the ring from her finger.
Elan could hear their arguing and whispers amidst the dark, for the fire was dying out and she dared not open her eyes to look about. A dull thumping drew near to her. There in the darkness of the tree house, a shadow slinked close by; she felt a hairy hand take hold of hers. It ran its bristly fingers across hers, searching for the ring in the dark……she jumped to her feet and shouted, “en lakos su thef sen rien seol ah Ehveh!? en er utre e erros Bothrane liet si e er erros si e er niet utre en vaman! (You dare to steal the sacred seal of Ehveh!? You will tell me where Bothrane lies and set me free and I will not pray for your demise!)
At these words, the tree house trembled as if it would tumble off its roost. The very fire that was almost dead suddenly roared and blazed with renewed heat, as if it felt Elan’s outrage.
“Yes, lassy…not meanin’ ya no harm, we’re not.” Romulus quivered.
“We be showin’ ya the way to Bothrane, yes, miss,” said Ligon, who was cowered in the corner.
“Fine, let’s have it, then,” she told them to go ahead with their directions. They stood under the overhang to show her the way.
Elan hardly believed them when they told her how one had to get to Bothrane. There was a place, a few miles past the tree house called Críon Bog, which was infamous for its inhabitants. From what the watchers told her, the bog was home to something called Rieve Nac (Firedamp).
“Them’s fierce lil’ devils, they be, lassy,” said Romulus. “Ya watch ‘em for they’ll take ya for thar supper.”
“How do you get through the bog?” she asked.
“Thar’s a windin’ path ‘round the western shore, thar is. You’ll find it at the edge of the wood. It runs all the way to thar Walls of Bothrane, it does,” Ligon told her.
“I’ll be back if you have misled me,” she warned them.
“Very well, missy, carry on.”
They disappeared back into their tree and she was left contemplating where she’d spend the night now. Elan descended the stairs and curled up on the bottom step, falling fast asleep. Surprised by her own forcefulness, she was sure that she had put enough of a scare into those watchers that they would not bother her again and this was the only place she knew that she could get out of the damp night air.
Elan awoke several hours later and ventured out into the early hours of the morning, staying on the path to the Críon Bog. She was aware of every shadow and each twig twitching in the breeze, wondering what creature was bold enough to make a path through such a dark place. At last, she came to the edge of the bog. She made her way to the western shore and sure enough, there was, a small sort of path around the edge of the water between the thick marsh grass and the forest’s edge. She would have to try to make it across in a day, for she feared the depths of the night would bring a new evil.
She could barely walk on the path around the Críon Bog, so narrow was the way. It became more and more difficult the longer she went on and after several hours of walking on what felt like a tightrope, she saw the tall cliffs in the distance. Elan could see the sunset shining upon the tops of them and thought that she must, surely, be nearing the edge of the dark forest.
Could I hear the ocean? Or was that wishful thinking?
As the sun sank in the afternoon sky, she realized that she was not going to make it out by nightfall. This weighed heavy on her, knowing that she was so close and yet, would have to suffer another night in this dark place. Elan could see by the light of the Lazul and would feel safer resting tomorrow, during what little daylight there was in this wood, so she continued on in the dark.
As daylight dwindled into twilight, she quickened her steps; nightfall came and the darkness enveloped her. She could feel it more now than ever, a heavy emptiness void of any sort of light. She kept searching across the bog, fearing what might take notice of her presence there.
Suddenly, she felt herself sinking; looking down she saw that her foot was already imprisoned in the mire. A voice, far off, from amidst the winds of Ludan, whispered in the night, “Elan. You can see the way out.”
All Elan knew was darkness. When she was able to focus her thoughts, a branch came into view. She gathered her wits and concentrated on the branch in front of her; as she thought about grabbing it, she could see that it was coming toward her. She could reach it now and when she stretched out just a little more…finally! She got hold of it and pulled with all her might.
Elan heard a splash and a sound coming from the depths of the bog: “Sshhhweeeettt…tt…ttt.” Not long after she heard the noise in the bog, a static crackling and rustling grew louder and she feared, nearer. A glowing orb weaved its way out across the water toward her. She knew at once that it was the Firedamp.
“Rieve Nac, erros su vanok!” (Firedamp, go back to the darkness.) She cried out, desperately trying to escape.
“Sshhhweeeettt...tt…ttt.” They whispered. There were more; many more. It looked like they were coalescing into a green, glowing mass that floated on the water. Elan still could not make out what they were exactly, all she saw was the ghastly green light.
“Rieve Nac, erros su vanok!” she cried.
They did not stop, for unknown to her, the Firedamp do not ‘hear’ as we do. They feel vibrations along the water’s surface and shores to find their victims. She tried holding up the ring to shine the light out onto them, hoping to frighten them away; they only crept closer.
“How do I get rid of them?!” she cried out. And then a sweet voice came upon the wind that she knew did not belong to the Firedamp; it fell softly upon her and peace with it.
“Sen Lazul un sen novum.” (The Lazul in the water.)
Elan plunged her hand and the ring with it into the water. At once, the entire bog lit up with the soft blue light of the Lazul and it soon overtook the green glob that was the Firedamp. Shortly, nothing remained but the blueness of the water and when that faded, silence fell upon the bog.
Elan, at last, pulled herself up out of the muck and was back on the path to Bothrane. She picked up the pace, yet again determined to make it out. “Thank you,” she sighed.
Coming nearer now to the walls of Bothrane, she was close to the bottom of the first cliff. She knew she would have to climb out of the bog, but she was too tired to try it now. Walking on until daylight broke, she stumbled around the base of the rocky walls till she could move no more. At last, she could see light and she lay down on the stony ground and slept.
As Elan was sleeping, something was watching her; the feeling overpowered her and she awoke. Looking around, she saw no shadows or lingering bog creatures. What she did notice was the difficult climb that lay ahead of her.
The cliff was steep and abrupt. She ascended the sheerest part by grabbing hold of rocks and positioning her feet so that she would not slip as she made her way up. Now, the cliff face became so sharp that she did not know how she would climb it.
