laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

Knowing the journey westward by heart, she used her spells to speed the trip, cutting it down to only a day. Nothing had changed much in those towns anyway she thought as Fort William was now in view. Smoke rose into the evening sky cutting thin grey lines into the brilliant golds and deep blue beyond. Going south from here was new territory and she was excited to be on her own for a bit. Within the forest, she found a comfortable place to sleep, nestled within large roots of an ancient tree that didn't seem to mind the interloper. Enjoying the cricket song and occasional hoot of an owl, she feel asleep.

'Explosions of cracking wood awoke her to the storm. Desperately, she tried to get to Gunnar and Victor but the waves and debris carried her away and ever downward. Trying her best to breathe, she fought to get to them, feeling their desperation and soon, agony.'

Sitting up, she frightened the birds nearby who scattered in every direction with the scream. Panting, Lisa sighed as she buried her face in her hands, pulling up her knees. 'I'm sorry,' she said. 'Gunnar, you should have been saved instead. Selyria needs you. Victor, you were too young.' Tears flowed amidst the mental beating causing emotional scars - or reopening the same.

'It wasn't your fault,' her friend's voice finally interrupted.

Raising her head, Lisa sniffed as she blinked away her tear-filled eyes. "What?"

From above and to her right, she heard the female voice clearer. "Natural disasters happen all the time. It wasn't anyone's choice on who perished in that storm. You can't go blaming yourself for what happened, so stop."

Green eyes turned and looked up to see the faint outline of her 'friend' as she crouched.

"Where have you been? I thought something bad had happened."

"Our links with our charges had been severed for a time, until your friend William struck Him down."

Lisa nodded. "Good to see you again," she sniffed as she wiped her cheeks and then rubbed her thighs, uncomfortable that anyone was that close and heard her frustrations first hand.

"Good to see you too. Are you going to be alright?"

"Yes, I think so. It's just going to take some time, that's all."

"Where are you headed now?"

"Lericanin wanted me to deliver a letter for him. It's actually nice to be out on my own for a while," she pushed herself up. "Especially helps that I'm not on any boat."

Chuckling, the champion stood also. Her faint blue aura lightly sparkled in the foggy morning light, still dim as it cut through the boughs high above. "I never liked boats that much either."

* * *

After a week of walking, she finally began to notice a change in the forest around her. Beyond sight, a faint, magical glow caught her attention mentally, tingling her brain as if from hundreds of flies landing on her head. She slowed her pace, soon noticing the presence of eight elves behind trees and up on branches watching her every move.

"I've come on the request of your queen," she announced, standing still.

'There's no need for you to go in there,' her champion stated. 'Just give it to them and let's head back.'

'I'm hoping for an audience with someone closer to her than a border guard.'

"What is your name," a female asked in Astaran as she approached.

"Kailee." Lisa soon noticed the cloaked figure move through thick foliage and step out from cover to reveal a brunette with soft features. Her hazel eyes appeared young, but very intelligent.

"I'll take you to her," she stated. "My mother's been looking forward to speaking with you."

'This is a bad idea,' the warning from Lisa's right. 'I can't go in there with you to protect you.'

'I'll be fine.' Lisa stepped forward into the deeper cover of trees that seemed to become taller with distance into the elven kingdom. She felt uneasy with each step and soon wondered if she wasn't making a mistake.

Reaching out a hand, the princess smiled. "I'll take you to her."

Lisa accepted the gesture and moved up to a large grey trunk which they stepped into. In a confusing flash, she felt a continuous bombardment of tree and open air as they sped to the distant city which finally emerged as they stopped. The princess backed, tearing her hand away as she glared at Lisa in pain.

"Are you alright, Your Highness," Lisa asked, concernedly.

Straightening, she rubbed her left hand and kept her distance. "I'll be fine." She motioned into the city whose buildings elevated with the mountainside that it had been built on. "She's waiting."

"I hope I haven't hurt you in any way."

The princess shook her head and began walking upward, climbing stairs and crossing large open squares as elves of all ages stopped and stared at the intruder. She could feel their anger and fear as they moved up between two and three story homes and businesses, dogs barking angrily as their owners tried to restrain them from attacking. Things were never this bad in human towns and Lisa quickly regreted not listening to her champion.
Soon, the tall gates of the palace came into view as guards bowed as they opened the large, oaken doors whose carved reliefs portrayed nature surrounding faerie folk. Probably from a time long gone now, she thought. Across a stone courtyard, they climbed more stairs and entered the immense halls of the palace. Archways carved and perhaps magically molded into climbing ivy and flowers rose high above them as they walked over marble floors forming similar dark brown and gold scenes of the world that the elves nurtured. The princess motioned into another long, high-ceilinged room where Lisa noticed a silver haired female talking to several regally gowned men who all turned to eye their guest.

Lisa bowed as she entered the doorway, then rose and waited to be invited in. The queen nodded to her advisors and amidst apparent protests, they left through a far door on the left of the throne room whose large floor sported the blue and gold heraldry of Kevelaer.

"Welcome to my home, Kailee," the queen said, her soft voice echoing around the tall marble columns that framed the inner part of the room, carved like large trees whose branches seemed to hold up the ceiling. "Come in."

"Thank you, Your Highness." She approached and held out Lericanin's letter, then bowed again as she handed it to the queen. Her deep blue dress, bedecked in silver borders gleamed from the sunlight pouring through the distant doorways that lined the exit to the veranda.

As she opened it, Lisa gazed into her green eyes, vibrant with life and magic and wondered how old this woman was as she read the letter.

"Tell Lericanin that I will have my smiths construct the sword for you when you reclaim the iron," she looked up from the letter and refolded it. "Will you sit with me while I have dinner?"

Surprised, Lisa grinned. "I'd be honored, Your Highness."

Eirianwen motioned to her right and Lisa followed her into a separate, private dining area. A small round table, graced with fancy brass candleholders stood in the center of the modest room bordered with large floral arrangements which seemed to explode from large vases. Light flowed through the windblown curtain as they sat, Lisa being given the chair to the queen's immediate right.

"How was your journey," Eirianwen asked as she sat back, relaxing.

"Fine," Lisa nodded. "I'm afraid that I may have harmed your daughter somehow. She clutched her hand when we arrived as if something happened. Her Highness wouldn't reveal anything when I asked, though."

"I'll see to her," she grinned, then motioned to two servants who brought in fruit and bread laden bowls along with a pitcher. "Do you eat food of any sort?"

"I have on rare occasion. I'll have some fruit, if that's alright."

Eirianwen chuckled. "Kailee, I want you to be comfortable here with me. Outside of the throneroom, I'm more relaxed."

Taking an apple from the bowl, she watched the servant nervously pour water into her goblet, then retreat to the queen. Once served, both girls headed back to the kitchen.

"How are the rest of the group?"

"Fine. Enjoying the break from traveling, for sure. We do so much of that. Oddly, they complain but when it comes to sitting down in one place for more than a few days, they find somewhere else they have to go," chuckling, she shook her head. "I'm just as guilty I guess."

"Some people in this world are meant for more than just a simple life," Eirianwen stated, then ate and Lisa noted the slight prophetic undertone.

"I can't help but wonder, Your Highness, but why have we become such a focus these past years?"

Green eyes studied her for a moment. "All in due time, Kailee. Be assured, you and your friends are not the only ones in this world who seem to be in the forefront of the battle. There are many, I've been told, in various cultures and countries who are thinking the same thing. There was a time when I wondered why I had been picked out to have the knowledge and abilities that I've been given. Fate, it seems is not without a sense of irony."

"How so?"

"An enemy that I wished to help eradicate long ago has become my closest ally. Humans destroyed my home and killed my family but, you're not the enemy. The Five are the ones that have been the thorns in our sides for centuries." She finished her dinner, sipped from the silver goblet, then sat back. "But, enough of those things. I didn't invite you here to talk of the past or my troubles. Will you stay with us tonight? There is still much I'd like to discuss and it seems that the day is quickly ending."

"I would be honored. But, I'm not totally sure that it would be a good idea."

"Why not?"

Lisa's eyes diverted to the golden light and shadow beyond the veranda as evening fell. "My presence has already claimed the lives of too many," she looked back to the queen. "I would hate that Your Highness and her family would suffer for that also. I noticed the looks on everyone as we approached."

"You are my guest. No harm will come to you or us merely from your presence. I promise you that." Eirianwen smiled. "Please stay."

Reluctantly, Lisa nodded.