The Elven Powers

Chapter Twenty Four: I want to know (Galandria)

My body stirred, as a breeze drifted across my exposed skin. An involuntary shiver, ran from my arm down the length of my body. I slowly, opened my eyes. The glade we were camped in, was ablaze with the early morning sun. The leaves on the trees, were cast in an amber shade like it could be Autumn. Still, summer had not faded just yet. The warmth of the rising sun flooded my veins and I began to lift myself up from my bedding role. Our bedding roles consisted of animal hides, as they were resistant to any extreme weather. We had decided against a tent, since it was summer and it would mean more to carry if we had. 

I stood quickly as I began to anticipate another day. It was surely not long until Tasathhel and I could feel it in the very fibre of my bones. Elrohir was not far. I longed for his caress, the talk with Morgel only worsening the situation. His talk of old emotion and old love only served to make my suffering worse. I wanted to tell Elrohir all that had transpired. I wanted him to hold me once more. I worried for his safety. I thought of his smile, then to meet his brother at last. I had to show how fully I gave myself to Elrohir. Then who knows what would happen? Secretly, ever so secretly, I longed to marry him.

I thought back to my coming of age. It all felt so perfect. I had met him for the first time that day. I had only dreamed of this. That day I had been so adamant that none would ever love me. There wasn't a hope in hell for me to marry. It had bothered me, plagued me with utter loneliness. Elrohir he was a good friend. I couldn't deny he had been handsome and that had first captured my gaze. Still, many nights spent around a campfire, days walking alongside him had made us friends. Then he saved me and confessed his undying love. Not once, but twice. Not only did I owe him, I wanted to prove myself to him. 

Morgel came to stand beside me, holding out some breakfast for me. I took it from him expressing my thanks. I was shocked he had thought of making me breakfast. Normally, I ate it cold but I could feel warmth coming off my food. He had obviously, risen early to make some. I ate it quickly, staring off into the woods. I then packed my bedding roll. I folded it into my bag quickly, but carefully so as not to get it dirty. By then the sun had fully risen and Morgel stood waiting for me by the edge of the clearing. 

We walked in silence for a moment, as the thick woods surrounded us. The land was becoming flatter, as we approached the mouth of the valley that held Tasathhel and the Third Realm beyond. I studied Morgel's purple robe, the dirt that had clung to the hem, had spread slowly upwards. Still, the radiant royal purple, shone through. I proceeded to then stare at the back of his head, covered in thick black locks. I figured it was time I got to know him, once more. 

He turned on the spot, stopping me in my tracks. His eyes, searched mine with slight amusement. He must have realised I had been staring at him. "Something on your mind?" He chuckled slightly. 

I smiled back. "Yes, actually." His smile faltered slightly. "What happened to you exactly? Why did you end up in this position?... How did you meet Elrohir?" My heart seized up painfully as I asked my last question, my desperation to rescue him surfacing once more. 

"I wondered when you would ask..." He started to walk on again, gesturing for me to walk alongside him. He slowed his pace so that I could keep up. " Well it all started on that day that you became a Guardian. I have to admit I was jealous." He chuckled slightly. " As a boy, I had always thought of being a noble soldier. If being a Guardian meant I could have protected you as well, I wanted nothing more. I felt it was my calling. To see that you were Guardian... I lost my mind. I couldn't bare thinking of what might happen to you. Also, sending my future bride into battle wasn't something I was keen on. Then I still didn't fully understand the way being a Guardian worked."

"Then I saw you being dragged off. I couldn't look at you, my thoughts were running too wild, not quite comprehending what had happened. I only looked up once you had gone, but in disgust at my parents. They had brought me up all this time with stern instructions, only to realise that none of that training mattered. I also felt broken up. I hadn't a family anymore, a line to continue. I wasn't to fulfil anything a normal first born heir would."

"When the men came to grab me, like you, I simply shrugged them off and stepped into the carriage willingly. I was surprised to find Faowin sitting there. She told me I was still not to see my family again, though I agreed it wouldn't be appropriate anyway considering we weren't related. At this moment, I would probably only do something I would regret. I decided to move on and find a different path. However, as I cried in Faowin's arms, I admitted I had no idea where to start. That is when she explained about being the Queen's heir."

"So I was shipped off to Killelvris. I spent many years in quiet study. This was when I found out about being able to abdicate from the position of Guardian. I immediately shut myself off, as my past became a haunting memory. Needless to say, I found it difficult fitting into the new city, my longing for our old life only increasing. Then Elrohir found me."

"It was whilst I was studying in the eastern Library. I ignored him as best I could, but he was very persistent. Eventually I caved, coming to the arena to play. We became good friends. We used to spar at the arena, maidens coming to watch us as we got older. We were always hitting on them, though we never took advantage of them. That would be dishonourable. Instead, we entered the Graces tournament to prove our worth."

He chuckled. " I won that tournament our first year. I had always devoted more time to my training than Elrohir, who was more concerned with the maidens." I felt a momentary stab of jealousy. Still, my Elrohir had always been charming, so this was hardly surprising. "He would always try to beat me each year. In fact, when I moved to the palace last year, he won the title for himself. I have been living in the palace for the last year under your very nose." He looked at me sadly. "I hated you then, as seeing you happy made me feel like you had completely casted our old life aside." He smiled. "But that is the past now. I may have focused on the bad back then, but now the future only seems brighter. I hate myself, for lingering on the bad and not enjoying the good. That's what saving Elrohir means to me. I need my friend Galandria. Then someday I can be at your wedding too. " He smiled at me making me blush.

He chuckled at my obvious blush. "Don't worry I'll talk to him about it. Though her may have to break a few hearts back in Killelvris."

I laughed. "Being Guardians like this, I'm not sure if we would have time for a wedding. Besides, I don't think it has crossed his mind."

Morgel looked into my eyes, becoming serious. "Elrohir is an honourable man. He respects marriage laws. He would not dare bed you, because of the law. But he wants to be with you fully. I see the way he looks at you." He smiled. "Just to love you will not be enough for him I fear. He will have to go through the horror of marriage, because you mean so much to him" He began to laugh and I laughed with him. 

We continued to walk through the forest, the breeze whistling through the trees. I sighed and spoke up. "Well I am glad you grew up with Elrohir. Even if you focused on your hatred at the time, you still have good memories and have grown up well. I am happy for you. Winning, the Graces tournament is no small feat either. I am sure you will find a woman of your own someday."

He blushed. "One that would take on the challenges of being Queen?" He chuckled. "I think not. Only you would have been brave enough. " He joked nudging me, causing me to laugh with him. "I believe that is why the Queen chose to be alone."

I smiled at this. "Or none proved worthy for her. She is a tough woman, so finding a man equally as strong would prove a near impossible task. " 

He laughed. "That and she can be scary sometimes. "

I laughed. "That too."

As the noon day sun rose in the sky, the forest began to thin. We found a sheltered place to rest for a bit, under a particularly large oak tree. I unpacked my bow and stood. Morgel nodded before I could speak, causing me to smile. I felt on better terms with him, now we could operate on a similar wavelength. He knew I was going to go hunt for some snacks. Maybe even find something for dinner later. But as I reached the edge of the clearing a figure, draped in white stood in my way. 

I stood back, Morgel rising as he noticed my obvious alarm. The figure produced a white staff, the top like twisted tree roots, that had been hidden in the folds of its cloak. A white polar bear, brushed up against the figure's side, alerting me to its identity. That was Polaris. Because only one woman was accompanied by a white polar bear. She dropped her hood, causing me to smile at the memory. It was the white witch, Faowin. 

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Hey guys, are you enjoying the story? I just wanted to dedicate this chapter to TwinCity1518. She has made me a wonderful new cover for 'The Elven Powers'. On the front you can see an impression of our heroin, Galandria. Thank you again for such a lovely cover!