Aarmau: Remember Me, Remember Us, Just Remember

Chapter 183

Zoey slowly nods, "I see, and being a werewolf did kind of tip me off. Do you have time to share your tale?"

Aph frowns and glances toward the treeline. "I would like to share my story but would you be willing to come with me? I took off and I'm sure a few people are worried about me."

Zoey follows where she's looking and nods, "Hyria's cottage? I've been there several times to visit. I would be happy to join you."

While they had been talking most of the other elves had wandered off but a handful still remained. Most were children but one, in particular, did not look happy and he glares at Aph. "Even after hundreds of years you still trust these humans Zoey?"

Zoey sighs heavily and turns toward the male elf. "Gabriel, we've been through this before. I will never be as close-minded as you are. Lady Irene and Lord Aphmau never did anything to abuse my trust. Elves are just as flawed as humans so before we can expect something from them we must fix it within ourselves first."

Gabriel growls as he steps toward Aph and without warning thick vines spring up from the ground and twine around his legs to hold him in place. Instead of calming down, Gabriel gets even angrier as he struggles to break free. "And what of this? We're caged within this forest, never allowed to leave. We're prisoners while the humans run free."

Aph sighs and her eyes completely shift to those of Irene as she moves toward him and gently rests her hand on his shoulder. "Please calm yourself, Gabriel. I'm not exactly human, not anymore. Being suspended here within the forest was not what either Irene or Lord Aphmau intended, but if my memories are correct, elves rarely left the Yggdrasil forest anyway, so it's no different. Sure you could be freed to leave but something tells me you wouldn't like what you'd find once you're out there. I can't be certain but I don't believe there are any other elves beyond the Sacred Forest."

All emotion seems to vanish from Gabriel's face but she knows it's still there. "That is not a decision for you to make."

Aph tilts her and gently smiles as she lightly touches the side of Gabriel's face. He flinches as she shows him images of the outside world and he leans away trying to break the connection.

Aph sighs, "The Yggdrasil Elves have always favored nature over human technology. You sealed yourself away within your forest as a way to protect yourselves from its corruption. If you leave this forest you will come face to face with the very thing you have avoided your entire existence and I cannot guarantee your safety beyond its borders. And the technology today, while not quite as advanced as when Irene was alive, is much more advanced than Lord Aphmau's lifetime."

The visions of life beyond the forest seem to drain the fight from Gabriel. Tears fill his eyes and he releases a shaky sigh, "Your world would destroy my people. We will remain and continue as we always have. I just ask that you limit your exposure to my people."

Aph moves her hand back to his shoulder and smiles at him. "I will not bring anything that you are not already experienced with. You live and breath magic so that is all I will bring with me and even then I will limit its use."