The Three Kingdoms

2: The Ranger

           

Eruviel stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her long, brown hair brushed back, with two small braids at each side. She had been told that she strongly resembled her mother. She decided to take it as a compliment, as she had also been told that her mother was one of the most beautiful elves in the entire forest. However, she had no real way of knowing if it was true, as she had no real memory of her mother. Both of her parents had died when she was rather young. 

            Eruviel was not, however, a poor orphan, or someone to be pitied. Her parents, being high nobles of the kingdom, did not leave her in the world empty-handed. Eruviel was also, one might say, a favorite of Lord Tidurian, as he had taken her under his wing and given her a place to stay within Nimloth Uireb, the ancient tree, a place reserved for royalty and nobility.

            Despite her high standing with the king, and her noble bloodline, Eruviel did her best to live as humbly as possible, feeling eternally grateful to the king for his kindness, she did not want to take his generosity for granted.

            Nimloth was the largest and most beautiful tree within the entire forest, and the very center of the forest kingdom, Gúl. Each of the rooms was intricately carved into the wood of the tree by master craftsmen, and despite its small size, Eruviel's was no different. Her quarters, however, were considered one of the smaller rooms of the tree, and the inside was rather simply furnished. Having a room near the outer edge of the tree, Eruviel was fortunate enough to have a window, below which sat her small, but comfortable bed. Her room was also furnished with a small writing desk and chair, bookcase, and dresser.

            Eruviel was still lost in thought, when there was an abrupt pounding on her door.

            "Eruviel? Are you in there?" A familiar voice called, being slightly muffled by the thick door.

            "Yes, what is it, Alassiel?" Eruviel responded, standing up and moving to open the door.
             "Lord Tidurian has called all of the elite guard to an urgent meeting, you are needed in the center chamber right away." Alassiel's voice beckoned with urgency.

            Eruviel scrambled to unlock the door, and opened it to find her friend waiting for her, fully dressed and ready for duty.

            "Come in." Eruviel beckoned as she quickly darted through her room, scrambling to find her leather harness. "What is the meeting about?" She questioned her friend, now fumbling to lace up her brown and green leather boots.

            "They didn't say, just that it was urgent." Alassiel sounded stressed.

            "Don't worry" Eruviel comforted her, patting her on the back "I'm sure it's nothing too serious, Alassiel"

            Alassiel let out a weak laugh, slightly relieved, but still trying to hide her worry. "Yes, I'm sure you are right."

            Together, the two elves hurried out the door and down an elegant, arched hallway, and up a set of stairs that seemed to wind around the entire tree, all the way to the top. Various vines and smaller branches formed the banisters, and grew into an awning over the winding stairs.

The way Nimloth was arranged, the central chamber was located at the very top of the tree, and in a way, was not really a chamber at all, as it had no actual ceiling. The enormous, marble-like branches of the tree rose up around the chamber in a braided fashion, having been woven by the ancient elves themselves. The emerald green leaves of the tree formed a beautiful, shimmering canopy over the chamber. Dazzling glowing crystals were elegantly shaped into lanterns around the room, and strung from the top-most branches of the canopy, hanging down from nearly invisible strands of elven cord, causing the illusion that the crystals were actually floating throughout the room. At the very center of the room was a large throne, woven out of the growing branches of Nimloth itself. The throne was large enough for three to sit comfortably on it, and was adorned with various furs and silks, as well as lavish pillows.