The Remembered (Elements II)

Chapter 12

As Nahara had known, when her father found out about her plan to bring back the garden, he called her to him.

“Nahara, darling. What’s this I hear about the garden?” He looked at her, an eyebrow raised, and she met the gaze with her own level one.

“I’m bringing it back,” she replied. “It’s what Mother would have wanted.”

He sighed. “Are you sure?”

She nodded. “Yes, Father.” She came closer, putting her arms around his waist in a hug. “I want to do this for her.”

He squeezed her briefly. “Alright then. I know you’ll make it beautiful again.”

She smiled, drawing back. “Llyr’s helping me,” she said. “And the other earth elementals that are with him. That’s alright by you?”

He nodded. “Yes, that’s fine. They’re not mine to command, after all. They’re free to do as they please.”

“Thank you, Father.” She slipped out of the room, and made her way down to the flower house, where she wanted to talk to Llyr.

“Llyr. How’s the garden going?”

He looked up. “Well enough,” he replied.

She nodded in satisfaction. “Good. Would you be happy for Dvalin to be moved then?”

He studied her frankly for a long moment. “You’re sure you want to do this?”

She hesitated, unnerved by his question, but then nodded. “Yes. He’s powerful, right?”

“Very. His mother is Isla.”

She frowned. He said it like it explained everything, but she didn’t understand. “What do you mean by that?”

“Isla is the most powerful elemental that we know of. He has inherited a lot of that power.”

“Oh.” Nahara nodded slowly. “I think I understand.”

“It is complex, young one. Don’t worry yourself about it.” He turned back to the blackened plant in front of him, his tattoos already pulsing gently.

“Llyr, do you think he’s ready? I don’t know anything about him.”

“He will be happier out of here,” Llyr replied absently. “But he won’t be truly happy until he is back home again.”

She huffed, frustrated. “That doesn’t tell me anything!”

He glanced at her, a smile crossing his face. “It tells you a lot, Nahara. Just think about it for a while.”

She sighed, and turned away. “Where is he?” she asked softly.

“His usual corner,” was the answer.

“Thank you.” She walked off, thinking about what he had said.

True to form, Dvalin was alone in the corner, his back to the entrance. She gazed above her in awe, having not been this way for a couple of weeks. He’d let the plants either side of the entrance grow tall, making an archway, and hiding the entrance. It was his own private place now, and she hesitated to intrude.

“Dvalin?” she ventured.

As always, he didn’t respond. She sighed, and came in. There was a rustling behind her, and she jumped with fright as she turned to see the plants moving to cover the gap.

“What are you doing?”

“I did nothing,” was the curt response. “What do you want?”

She gaped at his back, at a loss for words. “What did you say?”