The Mountains Blade

Chapter Thirty One

Chapter Thirty one- Awakening Those Who Slept

Markarious Venice watched as the car rolled to an aggressive stop on a long dark road. This was exactly what he had told Gabrielle to do.  After they drove off with the shadows staring in the distance, Markarious had tried to awaken the princess. 

She had only stared off, black pooling out of every crevice of her face before she slumped into his arm. Once out of range, the shadows no longer tried to take any power. It had been a bleeding moment that her heart had stopped beating and Gabrielle had pressed harder on the gas pedal before Avelina lurched forward eyes drowning in blackness as she screamed a blood curdling scream. 

Markarious would never forget the pain that the sound held. He had held her tight against his chest from where he leaned in between the seats. She had seized violently and Markrious had met Gabrielle's frightened eyes before he barked an order at her. 

"Stop somewhere that I can open a portal."

There was one portal that led to the Elvin kingdom. It could only be created with the ashes of their ground, given from the king himself. It was across the ocean from Goldmoon. Markarious gently set Avelinas head against the seat, praying that she would not choke on the black that oozed out of her perfectly pink lips. 

Callum nodded to him as both he and Gabrielle exited the vehicle. 

The road before them was only illuminated by the lights of the car. The hairs on Markarious arms were stuck straight up, the anticipation of what was to come. He knew the shadows would not give up that easily. However, it would be much harder for them to harm them in The Unknown World, where every living being was watching, waiting, to slaughter anything that moved in the dark. 

Markarious pulled out the small locket from his bag and opened it, revealing a dusty image of a woman. He prayed for forgiveness before he placed it face down and stepped his heavy boot onto it. The ashes erupted from it and formed a door like structure in front of them. 

Gabrielle's mouth was pulled into a straight line as she looked at Markarious intensely. 

Markarious frowned at her in annoyance. "What?" he snapped. 

"You know that once this door is open it cannot be used again." Gabrielle said this looking at the shattered locket below his feet. 

Markarious jaw ticked and he lowered his head. 

"I know," was all he said before he gathered the heir in his arms and went through the portal. 

~

Elwyn walked in solitude back to the castle. However, she did not make it out of the woods before she heard a rustle behind her.  Her shoulders tightened and she paused, waiting for another indicator from whatever was behind her.  Again the sound of movement caught her and she flung herself around, blade ready, angled to whatever threat lie in wait. 

A soft laugh cascaded through the leaves and Elwyn spun around, following the sound as it danced between the branches. 

Elwyn whipped her head around enough times that she grew dizzy. Whatever was there was taunting her. 

Elwyn clenched her fist and grabbed onto the necklace she wore. One pull and she could unleash hell on whatever was messing with her. "So quick to harm?" Laughed a voice from beside her. Elwyn turned slowly.

The voice had come from the trees. Elwyn blinked squinting her eyes at the dull oak trees bark. She was going insane. 

The warrior bared her teeth at the tree in distaste, shaking off the thought. She just needed rest. Elwyn sighed heavily and rubbed her face. Once her eyes were clear and open, she yelped. 

Before her stood a boy, he was lean with skin that matched the trees bark and eyes that reflected the leaves colors. 

Elwyn blinked and swallowed, rubbed her eyes and blinked some more. 

The boy had appeared out of the tree, melted out of it as if it were water. 

He smiled a pearly smile, his hair was the same color as his eyes, ashen red, autumn. He looked like fall. He was fall?

"Who are you?" Elwyn stuttered. 

The boy brushed his hands over his forest green pants and tidied his bark colored shirt before speaking. He dug his toes into the earth and rocked back and forth on his feet. "Well it's me, silly!" Elwyn furrowed her eyebrows in blatant confusion. 

"Excuse me?" She drawled. 

The boy frowned some and then pulled out a bundle of leaves from his pockets. 

Elwyn immediately reached for them, a feeling of homesick coming over her. 

The leaves were the ruby red and gold that were only in Goldmoon. 

Elwyn blinked at them as they shimmered and began to fall softly to the ground. She not so discreetly tucked one into her pack. 

"You're who watches me in the forest."

The boys face scrunched up into disgust. "Oh, don't say it like that! It sounds so creepy." 

Elwyn frowned at him. "That's because it kinda is."

"Hey! I watched over my forest well, until the shadows." 

Elwyns attention immediately snapped back to the boy who looked off into the distance somberly. "They burned half of my forest. I couldn't grow back my friends." 

Elwyn gaped at him, more confused than when the conversation first began. "Again, who are you?" 

The boy laughed, brightening up and smiling. "The names Fern!" He said enthusiastically pulling Elwyn into a hug. 

Elwyn, held her blade out at him, in warning as his arms tried to wrap around her. 
He stepped away slowly, his face turning white with fear. 

"Sorry." He pleaded. 

Elwyn breathed in heavily, realizing how much he smelled of burnt wood in that moment. "What are you?"

"I'm a keeper. I take care of the forests and in turn if there is ever war they take care of us. Although it has been centuries since I have been awoken!" 

"But you said you watched me?" 

"Yes, but I was never able to leave the tree until today. I don't know why but something awoke me." Elwyn gulped. She had a feeling that she was the reason this keeper was awake. Fear quickly spread throughout her chest. What else had she awoken with her surge of power?