Return to Jorgaldur Volume V: Reunion (2)

Old Maisha (I)

"It's huge!" Eldmi admired.

"It never ends!" Gjami marveled.

Through one of the elven gates, they had arrived in front of a huge tree thousands of years old, no one knew how many. It was a sacred place for the elves, of great importance. For the dryads, it was old Maisha, a good friend.

"Let's go, let's see what we have to do," Klimsal urged them.

The spectacle was impressive, but there were other reasons why they had gone there.

"Let's go," her partner, Elendnas' sister, nodded.

Elendnas, Goldmi and the girls followed them, while admiring the surroundings. Everything seemed exuberant with life.

There were also a great number of elves, hundreds. Some were queuing, others were waiting outside, enjoying the beauty of the place. Many of those in line looked nervous, especially in the longest line.

There was another much smaller line, and it moved faster. Those in the second line were dressed much more ostentatiously, as there were many jewels on some.

"Why there're two lines?" Goldmi asked quietly, so as not to be heard by her daughters.

That tree was sacred to all elves. It didn't make much sense that there were two entrances, although it was easy to suspect the reason.

"I'm not sure. It seems that one is for the nobles and the rich," Elendnas observed. He wasn't very pleased either.

The elf had great prestige due to his actions and power, but he had been born into a modest family. The death of his parents had forced him to strive to take care of his little sister, and, in some way, forced him to develop his potential.

Goldmi nodded. That was what she thought too, but she didn't like it. On the one hand, it bothered her that a few people took advantage of their position. Perhaps, that feeling was influenced by her dealings with a certain prince many years ago.

On the other hand, she felt that it wasn't natural. Her connection with nature made her faintly perceive the uniqueness of the place, of that enormous tree. She felt that this situation broke the harmony, although she couldn't explain it very well.

Goldmi stood watching, while her daughters ran around. Klimsal and Elenksia had gone to the information point, where several elves attended to the newcomers. They didn't take long to return.

"They told us to go through that entrance," Elenksia informed, between nervous and confused.

She could also see that it was the one for the nobles, although at least they wouldn't have to wait in such a long line.

His brother was surprised for a moment, but he quickly understood. He had asked about the passes, how to get them, but instead they had been given to him, as a gift. Given his prestige and his wife's, it wasn't so strange that they had given him VIP passes, or whatever they were called.

"Go then. We'll wait for you here," her brother assured.

Whether he liked it or not, he couldn't return the passes and make his sister come back, Elendnas couldn't do that to them.

They watched them approach the entrance, to the small queue, nervously. However, they soon began to frown.

"Are we really going to go in?" Elenksia asked incredulously, as she became more and more nervous.

"Of course. Don't worry, I'm with you," Klimsal replied. She was holding her hand.

Although, she could hardly keep her voice and hand from shaking. Klimsal wanted to appear firm and calm to reassure her beloved, but she couldn't calm herself. They had waited a long time for this.

In reality, the passes weren't that difficult to obtain. It might take time, but the place was open to all elves. Although, some had it easier than others.

However, they had been continually delaying it. First, it had been Elendnas' illness that had made them put it off for later. Then, when it had gotten worse. The birth of the twins had also had an influence.

When they had decided, the attack against the corruption had arrived. Then, her brother had returned with the passes. That had left them without excuses.

"What're you doing here? This isn't a place for commoners, your queue is the other one," suddenly an exaggeratedly groomed elf male interrupted them with disdain and airs of superiority.

The makeup seemed a bit overloaded, and the amount of jewelry excessive. Nonetheless, it was his attitude that nearly made Klimsal lose control, though. She was usually the calmer and more patient of the two, but Elenksia was her weak point. She could ignore being insulted, but not the slightest disrespect to her beloved.

Luckily, Elendnas' sister knew her well. She squeezed her hand, and took a step forward to leave her behind.

"Why not? We've been told we had to come here," Elenksia replied.

Her tone was kind, though not servile. She may have come from humble origins, but she was Elendnas' sister and Goldmi's sister-in-law. Plus, the elf knew the Blood Queen herself, Eldi Hnefa, and even a dryad. A jeweled elf noble couldn't impress her. Though so much perfume was certainly unpleasant.

"By the great tree! There're some commoners here, and they don't want to leave! Someone throw them out!" another elf looked like he was going to faint, as his tone was exaggeratedly affected.

"Get out of here, commoners! Only the chosen ones can come here, not the commoners! A red ticket is needed!" another elf, equally haughty, tried to chase them away. She was gesturing with her hand for them to leave.

"We have a red ticket," Elenksia replied coldly. Actually, they had two.

She didn't like trouble, but even she was starting to get irritated. Klimsal, a step back, was clenching her fist and teeth very hard.

"Where did you steal it!? Give it to me right now! It must be confiscated!" the first elf reached out his hand, apparently indignant. Even for him, it wasn't so easy to get it.

He tried to take the ticket that Elenksia was holding, but his hand was hit hard.

"How dare you!?" the elf exclaimed between anger, fear and pain. His hand was red.

Klimsal hadn't contained herself, and her level wasn't low. She couldn't take it anymore.

"Someone call the guards!" the second elf exclaimed, and let himself fall into his wife's arms, as if fainting.

"Some commoners have attacked us!" another shouted.

It wasn't long before a pair of elven guards appeared, with armor that was more for parade than battle. Following the shouts of the elven nobles, they approached Klimsal and Elenksia. However, they stopped short.

"What's going on here?" Elendnas intervened, visibly upset.