Dark and Light Anthology

The Moonlit Rose

For many centuries elven races had kept themselves hidden from the human world, that was until the human world stumbled upon the ways of magic. It had led to the discovery of the Elven hidden realms, who had over Twelve centuries ago had been at war with man. Now in this new age maybe it was time to find a semblance of peace and start anew. After all, the human race had grown in different ways with unknown directions from the elves. As the world had begun to change so did the way magic was used. The Elders of the elven races had decided that it was best to leave marks for their kind among the misty forest, for those who had lost their way, or had escaped imprisonment. A symbol of who they truly were, a blue rose that would only appear and glow during a full moon. Eventually the rose would be given the name Moonlit rose, one that only those of the Elven realms were to know about but as magic began to grow in the human world, or elves chose to leave the safety of their safe haven word of the mysterious flower hidden in a misty haunted forest began to spread throughout human world. It was thought to have stories of old, ones that warned children to never go into that very forest for if you did you would never return.

When in truth, there was a shrouded barrier just behind the fifth row of trees, if one was of elven lineage or born of magic they could easily pass through the barrier without ever having to touch the Moonlit Rose or even seen where it was. However every once in a while a human was able to break the spell, the reason was unknown. Be it fate, luck, the way magic or who the rose chose for its plan. As the late Elders had passed the new leaders had decided maybe it was time to take the shroud down and let humans see them once again, however there was an enemy that didn't want the Elves or the humans to be aligned once again. It would do anything to stop this including starting a war once again. As night of the new full moon approached a meeting was set for the heads of the elven realms and the leaders of the human race to meet but something else was waiting for them. As the rose began to glow, so did the magic that encompassed the both realms humans and elven alike, it was as if it had been intensified a hundred times more than normal. As the shroud fell from the misty forest the harvest blood moon rose on the conference area, waiting for elven and humans alike as an enemy hidden in the shadows.

The darkness waited until both groups had taken their seats, as the meeting started the shadow moved among them, looking over each person's shoulder. A small chuckle escaped its lips as it read what was being discussed.

"Is there something amusing about our proposition?" A female Elven leader asked as she sat upright, her eyes having drifted over to the older human male.

"Um what?" The male asked as he looked up in confusion.

This was the plan, to cause discord among them from the start but it had failed when another person spoke up.

"Please my Lady, don't mind him, he has a bit of a hearing issue. It comes with old age and he is often known to giggle to himself."A young half-ling had stated as she neared the table and bowed to the Elder elf. The she-elf who immediately recognized her. "He is my father, sorry I am late." She added as she glanced around before she sat next to him, and scanned over what they were reading.

As the Elder Elf nodded, the shadow growled internally. He had not expected this so he implemented a new plan, one that would surely put the races at war again. As the sun began to rise some of the elves that were left just beyond the trees began to wonder what had taken so long.

The peace treaty was supposed to be over hours ago, but they were ordered not to move until they were given orders or until the sun rose. As two of them advanced on the meeting place the sight that lay before them tore at their hearts, the leaders of their realms laid slaughtered among them were that of the humans and a barely breathing half-ling. It was a betrayal no one had seen coming. As one of them approached the young half-ing, his eyes widened, they thought she had perished with her mother. As he rushed to her, he quickly covered her up with his cloak and carried her towards the barrier.

"My King!" Someone else called out after them after they had reached the barrier, as the male elf holding the young female in his arms turned around he glared slightly. "You know that half-ling isn't allowed into the realm!" They warned.