The roof shimmered as Roane moved forward. All was silent in the long tunnel except for the drip drip of the condensation that gathered along the walls and ceiling. There appeared to be no sign of life inside the tunnel. She had been walking for about an hour now. Looking back to where she had come, she could see nothing but blackness beyond where the light from here staff could reach. She sighed as she looked forward and saw the same scene before here. The dampness from the floor of the cave had soaked through her soft leather shoes and made her feet feel as if they had been the target of an ice dragon.
Roane had tried to stay positive, but her optimism was waning. She began to feel as if she had made a wrong choice in leaving the comfort of her home. The tunnel was small and she needed a chance to spread here wings, in a literal sense. There was no sign of a rest anytime soon Roane, however, pushed forward step by step until she finally thought she saw the cave opening up ahead of here. Her heart lightened and a smile spread across her face. As she approached the opening to the tunnel, however, her heart immediately sank as the realization came that she was once again entering the tunnel where she had first began her journey.
She saw the same formations of stalactites appeared to be the same as she had left them hours before. As Roane stepped out into the cavern for a second time, she looked back at the tunnel where she had come from and watched the opening close up behind her. An aura of defeat set in and Roane found a large boulder to plunk down onto. She looked around the cavern and couldn’t find the door she had first been deposited from. The only opening present was the never ending tunnel that she had already explored. She bowed her head and placed her face in her palms. Tears began to silently slip through her fingers and splashed into the pool of condensation that had gathered at the base of the boulder. This must be a punishment for leaving, or wanting to leave, or disobeying her parents. She thought.
“What’s wrong Lady?” The tiny childlike voice startled her. The staff that was leaning against the boulder clattered to the ground and the cavern fell into darkness as the magical link between her and the staff was interrupted.
“Who’s there?” she demanded. Bending over she snatched up her staff and held it in front of her defensively. The crystal at the end illuminated once again. She peered around her and saw no one.
“It’s ok lady, don’t be frightened. My mum always says that things are usually more scared of you than you are of them. Of course I’m not really scared of you but I think it just means don’t be afraid.”
“Where are you? Who are you?” Her shoulders softened but she held her defensive stance.
“Down here lady.”
Roane looked own and suddenly at her feet stood a tiny little creature that she didn’t recall seeing in her kingdom before. A tiny arm came out from it’s body that stood no more than four inches high. The creature’s head, the size of an apple, appeared to be too large for its body and she wondered how on earth the tiny neck held it up. All together the creature was no more than six inches tall. Course hairs grew from the back of its hands and tops of its tiny bare feet. The skin covering its body had the appearance of old worn leather. A child like face was surrounded by fine golden hairs that were subsequently covered by a small acorn cap. Pointed ears poked out between his hairs.
“Where did you come from? There was no one here.” Roane pondered aloud.
“I’ve been with you all along.” He grinned up at her. “You see very little you missed what you were looking for I think light dwellers often miss it unless they know that’s what my mum says but we haven’t seen a light dweller for a long time I was beginning to think that mum was telling tales I just had to follow you!” He finally paused for a breath. “Why are you so big? Why do you have those funny things coming out of you back? Where did you come from? Do you really eat elflons for dinner? I don’t believe that one anyway, but if you do please don’t eat me.” The elflon continued on so fast with a barrage of questions that Roane hardly thought he was breathing. She squatted down and found a dry spot to sit and cross her legs. Roane felt that it was a good time for a rest anyway. Besides, she was fascinated by this new creature, Elflong, which was standing in front of her. She had never even heard of elflons. Without even a hesitation the elflon grabbed the folds of her robes and hoisted itself up onto her knee and perched blinking up at her. All the while the questions kept shooting out at her. “How come you wear those funny things on your feet? What DO you eat?”
Roane cut him off with a soft forgiving chuckle. Any despair she felt earlier was fading into the background and she was reminded once again that everything happens for a reason. “Slow down my friend,” she said, “I will answer all your questions, but first you must answer one of mine.”
“Really? All my questions?” he said gleefully.
Worried a little that she was making a mistake with her offer, she plunged forward anyway. “Sure I will, but first, you said something earlier that makes me curious. You said light dwellers often miss it. What do they miss? What did you mean by that?”
“Oh that’s an easy questions.” A huge grin spread across his face. Then he said matter-of-factly, “Turn out your light.”
Roane gave a puzzled look but complied with the elflons wishes. The cavern went black. Everything was silent once again and she could hear the rhythmic dripping of condensation falling all around her. “What good does THAT do?” Roane exasperated.
“Be patient, you light dwellers are always so impatient. That’s why you miss it. It’s the crystals” Roane waited in the darkness. She began to become aware of her breathing. If not for the weight of her knee she would have thought that she had imagined the whole encounter. After about two minutes had basses in the darkness all of a sudden it happened. All around her the crystals on the roof illuminated and the room was transformed. All around her things appeared that she had not seen before under the light of her staff. The stalactites that had appeared to be plain before were in fact covered with windows and doorways. A stairway wound all the way around each one leading to the doorways adorning them. Some of the windows were lit and she could see elflons at the windows. There were a series of rope bridges hanging from one another. The walls all around her transformed from bland rock faces to a series of detailed symbols and swirls. They became illuminated under the light of the crystals and glowed with hues of orange and gold. Along with the opening she first journeyed down, there now appeared to be seven other distinct doorways. Each doorway was surrounded by a different formation of crystals with a different series of golden symbols etched into each one. On each doorway was a set of writings. The village that appeared above her head was now a buzz of activity with the little elflons not paying any attention to the light dweller on the ground. Some pulled tiny carts stacked with roots and others busied themselves with other village tasks. Not one little person was idle. Even the children appeared to be played games with stones and pebbles they had found.
“see,” beamed the elflon perched on her knee. “It’s the crystals. They don’t like your light. They prefer their own. Your light is dull it doesn’t reflect the truth. In fact, I’m surprised you even saw the crystal, most light dwellers use the flames from above, your light must be special. I knew you were special, that’s why I followed you. Mum said I shouldn’t go but I snuck away.”
As if on cue a taller elflon with more feminine features approached. “By the true light, what am I going to do with you? Get down here this minute!” her hands were placed on her hips and she glared up at her son perched on a stranger’s knee.
“See mum, she is friendly.” He scuttled down and stood beside his mother. Not once did the smile on his face fade away. He appeared to be simply ecstatic with his actions and his ability to talk to a light dweller. “She even said she would answer ALL my questions.”
“She did, did she.” The female elflon looked up at her suspiciously. “well we’ll need to pack your bags then because if she was to answer all your questions you’d have to be with her for years.” She placed her hand on the young elflons shoulder, “Now run along.” The smaller elflon ran off and left his mother standing with Roane.
Turning to Roane she said, “Sorry for his bother, you have made him a very happy boy. I see you figured out the secret of the crystals.”
“Yes,” Roane responded. “Thanks to your son. I am very grateful”
“He is a very determined young one, forever curious about things. I trust you’ll be moving along soon, there are grumblings about the ‘light dweller’ stirring among the people.
“Yes ma’am, I had no desire to intrude. I’m sorry for any confusion or trouble I might have caused.” Roane looked around at the doors that now lined the walls. Not having any specific destination in mind she had no idea which door to pick.
“Where do they lead?” she asked wistfully as she gazed around the room.
“They lead where you need, each will be the right one for you. If you let it be.”
Out of nowhere came the young elflon appeared once again. Roane was pleased as she wished to express her appreciation before she departed. Taking the opportunity she looked down at him and said, “Thank you friend, for your help.”
The female elflon turned to the boy. “You’re ready to go then?”
“Yes mum!” he responded again with a beaming grin of pride.
“Go?” Roane questioned. It wasn’t until just then that she recognized the small pack on the elfons back. Suddenly taken aback she realized the young elflons intentions to go with her. “Um… I….” she stumbled over her words, “you can’t come with me.” She finally blurted out bluntly.
“You intend to go back on your word then?” the female elflon questioned, her eyebrows now raised. The young boy looked crestfallen.
“My word? But I never promised…”
Roane was cut off, “You said you would answer all his questions. I explained that would take a while.” She placed her arm around her son’s fallen shoulders. “Elflons keep their word always, I realize this is often a foreign concept for light dwellers, but I trust you will bring him back one day, as sad as I am to see him go.” She knelt in front of him, “Now you remember what I told you about the outside. “ He nodded. She straightened his sack on his shoulders and kissed his forehead.
Roane sat there blinking down at the pair in front of her. She was unsure on how she had gotten to this point, but she was sure that resistance would be useless. She had learned long ago that sometimes you didn’t need all the answers before moving forward. Not that she knew what this new partnership would entail but there was clearly no way out of it now and keeping her integrity.
Roane stood and held out her hand for her tiny companion. “You may as well ride with me.” He stepped onto her palm and scurried up her arm. Once again excited for the journey ahead of him he sat on his shoulder. His hand gently curled into a lock of her hair.
Looking around at the doors, Roane let out a deep breath. She seemed to have been holding her breath for some time now. She thought back to the words of her young companion’s parent. ‘They lead where you need, each is the right if you let it be.’
“See with your heart,” came a whisper in her ear.
Of course! She thought. Have I learned nothing for this encounter? She closed her eyes and began to center her soul. Her wings spread out behind her reaching their full width. She closed her eyes and began to steady and regulate her breathing. When her eyes finally fluttered open she felt the need to spin around to her left and noticed one of the doors had glowing crystals brighter than the others. The symbols glowed bright. She stepped toward it crossing the cavern. The words on the door began to glow brighter as she approached, as she came upon the doorway she began to notice the words on the door created a verse.
I am all about you,
but to see me is a trick,
You may capture me and wield me
but to hold me not a bit.
I do not have a throat,
But my song can still be heard
What am I?
Roane thought hard about her answer. Time ticked away. The small Elflon on her shoulder swayed back and forth as if trying to restrain himself from blurting out the answer. Suddenly it clicked. “The wind!” she exclaimed. The door in front of her dissolved and a corridor opened up in front of her. The difference between this corridor and the one she first entered was that this one was fully lit by the crystals along the walls and ceiling of the tunnel. Subsequently, there was an opening at the end that led to the forest and trees beyond.
Curious! :)
ReplyDeleteCute! I like Elflon :)
ReplyDelete